These last decade retrospective things are all over the place at the moment, and since I never saw a bandwagon I wasn't tempted to jump on, here's my picks for a Jays' team of the last ten years.
Lineup
Criterion: 150 Games at the position.
Catcher: Gregg Zaun
From 2004-2008. 1922 PA, .255/.354/.399, 97 OPS+
The Jays had no shortage of catchers over the last ten years. 21 guys appeared behind the plate, but Zaun had nearly twice the plate appearances of his nearest rival - Darrin Fletcher.
First Base: Carlos Delgado
From 2000-2004. 3299 PA. .296/.419/.578, 154 OPS+.
Only Lyle Overbay joins Delgado with over 150 games played as a regular first bagger, and whilst Overbay's numbers are not to be sniffed at he is almost 200 points of OPS behind Delgado in 1000 less plate appearances.
Second Base: Aaron Hill
From 2005-2009. 2633 PA. .285/.337/.434, 102 OPS+.
Hill is comfortably ahead of the O'Dog who held down the starting job for the three years before he arrived, his OPS+ is 9 points ahead and he has over 800 more Plate Appearances. The decade didn't start so well as Homer Bush put up a very forgettable .612 OPS between 2000 and 2002.
Third Base: Scott Rolen.
From 2008-2009. 840 PA, .288/.358/.452, 115 OPS+
A close contest between Rolen and Glaus. Glaus played a little more (250 extra PA) and hit a little better (121 OPS+). But, I'm giving it to Rolen for his quite brilliant defense, Glaus was no slouch and was quite excellent at some of the defensive duties - charging in on bunts and throwing bare-handed in particular, Rolen's defense though was just a treat to watch throughout his time here.
Shortstop: Marco Scutaro.
From: 2008-2009. 1272 PA, .275/.362/.384, 100 OPS+
23 guys suited up for at least one game at short. Do you remember Jorge Velandia or Luis Figueroa? Are you, like me, trying to forget the Royce Clayton or Chris Woodward eras? Alex Gonzalez saw the most time of anyone at short with 1294 PA's in the decade's early years. Scutaro is right behind him in playing time and obviously way ahead of him as a hitter. Chris Woodward, Russ Adams and Johnny Mac are the others to have played at least 150 games at short. It's been a pretty dismal ten years for Jays' shortstops.
Leftfield: Shannon Stewart
From: 2000-2002, 2008. 2510 PA, .305/.362/.457, 111 OPS+
This could equally easily have gone to Adam Lind or Little Cat. Sparky also made the games played requirement and wasn't too far away by the numbers. Lind had the best overall OPS= by seven points over Stewart, but Shannon led in PA and OBP so I'm going to give him the nod.
Centerfield: Vernon Wells.
From 2000-2009. 5225 PA, .281/.330/.472, 107 OPS+.
No competition here, only Jose Cruz Jr. also reached the 150 game mark.
Right Field: Alex Rios.
From: 2004-2009. 3353 PA, .285/.335/.451, 105 OPS+
Raul Mondesi was the only other option to Rios and he hit a little worse and had under half the plate appearances, although he did have a comfortable lead in tattoos.
Designated Hitter: Brad Fullmer.
From: 200-2001. 1097 PA, .284/.333/.499, 110 OPS+
This one was a toss-up really between Fullmer, Frank Thomas and Josh Phelps. Thomas had a slight lead in OPS+ but was 400 PA behind Fullmer, Phelps’s overall numbers are very similar to Fullmer's just a smidgen worse. Very little in it, I'm giving it to Fullmer as he had the lead in power numbers.
Bench
Criterion: 150 Games at any position
Catcher: Darrin Fletcher
Corner Infielder: Eric Hinske
Middle Infielder: Chris Woodward
Outfield: Reed Johnson
Big Scary Bat: Matt Stairs
Rotation
Criterion: Minimum 200 IP, Started 60 % of games played.
Starter: Roy Halladay
From: 2000-2009. 267 GS, 139-69, 133 ERA+
Over 100 wins, 38 complete games and 850 more strikeouts than any other Jays starter over the decade.
Starter: A.J Burnett
From: 2006-2008. 80GS, 38-26, 111 ERA+
Love him or hate him, he was pretty effective whilst he was here.
Starter: David Wells
From: 2000. 35 GS, 20-8, 123 ERA+
Only one season for Boomer, but it was a rather good one. He went 20-8 with a 4.11 ERA and 166/31 K/BB. That’s the decade’s best season by a Jay’s starter not named Halladay.
Starter: Shaun Marcum
From: 2005-2008. 64 GS, 24-17, 111 ERA+
Starter: Jesse Litsch
From: 2007-2009. 50GS, 20-19, 113 ERA+
The final two rotation spots could easily go two of four ways; I think Marcum and Litsch have a slight edge over Chacin and Bush. Ted Lilly racked up just over 500 IP, but his 102 ERA+ leaves him a little off the pace
Bullpen
Criterion: 100 IP 80% in relief.
Spot Starter/Long Relief: Gustavo Chacin
From: 2004-2007. 58G, 25-15, 0 SV, 108 ERA+
Ignoring the bullpen criterion mentioned above. I’m putting Gus here more as a spot starter for when A.J has an owie, and because I just can’t do a team of the decade and not have Gus on it somewhere.
Left Hander: Scott Downs
From: 2005-2006. 280 G, 15-13, 16 SV, 137 ERA+
Left Hander: Brain Tallett
From: 2006-2009. 180G, 13-15, 0 SV, 101 ERA+
The Jays have featured 22 LOOGYS over the decade, it seemed somehow to be many many more. Downs and Tallett dominate the IP list, only Jesse Carlson also pitched over 100 Innings. There are some fine names on the rest of the list: Dan Plesac, Trever Miller, Jason Kerschener and Scott Eyre for example and of course the requisite ‘whodat’ guys – Scott Wiggins, John Bale, Dave Maurer and Eric Gunderson.
Right Hander: Justin Speier
From: 2004-2006. 185 G, 8-10, 7 SV, 145 ERA+
Right Hander: Jason Frasor
From: 2004-2009. 342 G, 19-23, 32 SV, 119 ERA+.
Frasor dominates the IP list for right handers and Speier is way ahead of the pack in ERA+. Honorable mentions to Paul Quantrill, Jeremy Accardo and Billy Koch (I have to say it had slipped my mind how effective he was for a while), and not forgetting, with a glorious 0.1 IP, Frank Menechino.
Closer: B.J Ryan
From: 2006-2009. 155G, 5-9, 75 SV, 149 ERA+
Billy Koch actually wasn’t too far behind with 69 saves and a 133 ERA+. After that we have the Accardo’s, Frasor’s and Downs’ and then we’re quickly into Aquilino Lopez and Cliff Pollitte territory. 23 guys managed at least one save, including Pedro Borbon, Dan Plesac, Jeff Tam, Terry Adams, Kerry Ligtenberg and Shawn Camp.
You know, this team would win a lot of games, and probably still miss the playoffs.
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20100104091142940