Sure I'd have no problem with Hentgen. He was always one of my favourite Jays though much more so when his fastball hit 93 consistently. He would be an ideal #4 guy for the Jays but I would hope he wouldn't be more than $1.5 million so the Jays ample room to add more guys. He might get more than that though because of his hot second half and the memory of him in his prime.

I wouldn't expect much in the way of performance. I would be fairly happy with an ERA comfortably under 5.00 and more than 180 innings which would put him far ahead of what Sturtze and Lidle produced.

If Hentgen really does have his stuff back (which the Os believed even though they weren't willing to shell out big bucks for just one more year of Pat -- at least they're smart enough to know they can't contend until 2005 at the earliest), he's the perfect Jays pickup. High upside at not-too-big bucks and he's looking for a one year deal at last report.

With two (well maybe three or four) more starting pitchers, the Jays are real contenders in 2004. It's time to go for it -- we've all had enough of this Evil Empire stuff.

If Kelvim leaves, you've got Roy and pray for rain. Yuch.

Me, I'd say yes, provided he's willing to work for the standard J.P. wage (though it would be an insult to pay him less than they paid Sturtze). The Jays need to improve, but they also need to put butts in seats - and bringing a popular player back would help.

I think Hentgen is going to get more than most people think. There's at least a handful of teams interested. I think the bidding begins at $2 million.

I was surprised that JP spoke as highly of Hentgen as he did the other day. His past arm problems would make me nervous. He also gave up a ton of HRs last year as well - 25 in 160 innings.

I don't think there's enough upside with Hentgen to go over $1.5 million for 1 year. There is the risk that he'll get hurt again. I'd let someone else take a chance on him.

Hentgen will not help attendance. There's very few players that have an impact on attendance, and an old, back of the rotation pitcher isn't going to draw anyone out of the ordinary to the park.

The best thing the Jays can do to improve attendance is win.

According to the Sun, the Jays have an offer on the table for Hentgen.

I'd bet that even though there are a handful of teams interested, none are willing to go above 1.5-2.0 million for him...I'd guess he has several offers that look awfully similar and Pat just has to pick which situation he likes best - With a solid offense behind him and a chance to be a 2-3 Starter, Toronto presents a solid opportunity...on the other hand, being in the AL East means Pat probably has at least one offer from a team more likely to be playoff-bound

It looks like we'd find out in the next couple of weeks anyway according to Hentgen's agent. But the cautions about Hentgen's high homerun rate and lower than normal hit rate are sound. His hit rate was abnormally low in the second half (even compared to his prime years) which smacks a bit of luck and if it comes back up to normal along with a still high homer rate and modest at best K rate then that's not a guy you'd want a lot of money tied up in for the coming year.

He's going to cost more because he's Pat Hentgen but I still wouldn't mind having him back; at the very least he should cost a lot less than Lidle if his performance slides. It doesn't look like the Jays will be the top dollar offer anyway as Ricciardi was emphasizing their situation over dollars in the Sun article.

The lone solid offer made by the Jays this week was the one given to former Blue Jay Pat Hengten, who is seeking a one-year contract, according to his agent.

"We'll see how that one plays out," Ricciardi said. "All you can do is put your best foot forward and hope it works.

"You like certain players, identify certain players and you go after them. But with any guy you're dealing with, if it comes down to money then we're not going to be the No. 1 team and be swaying people with the top dollar."

If not money, then what?

"I think we have a good thing going here and I think people have noticed in two years how far we've come," Ricciardi said. "We have a good nucleus and people know what we have coming (in their system). I think we're a team on the rise and if someone wants to be a part of that I think we have a lot to offer people."

Bob Lamonte, Hentgen's agent, said before leaving Phoenix that they hope to make a decision within two weeks time.

The Jays are hoping Hentgen remembers the good times.