Sabean says he'll probably decide on Rios for Lincecum within the next couple of days.  He added, "...we want to get on to other business if we're going to pass on this".  Sounds like they're leaning against the trade, and he says he wants to try to get another pitcher to lessen the blow.

http://www.mercurynews.com/giantsheadlines/ci_7669450?nclick_check&nclick_check=1

You know what they say, you can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all the people all the time. Little Stein, what exactly do you hope to accomplish with all these silly deadlines?

As for what Sabean is saying, he seems to want to expand the deal. At least we'll know one way or other whether this deal gets done.

Tim Kurkjian on ESPNews (the television station; nothing online yet) reports that the Yankees are back in the Santana sweepstakes

Phew. I was worried we might go a day without hearing about Santana.

There's an interesting exchange going on over at BTF with Keith Law, Rob Neyer and Rockies' beat writer Tracy Ringolsby (using the handle "ballfan") all at the center of the shitestorm, and all participating in the dialogue.

There's an interesting exchange going on over at BTF with Keith Law, Rob Neyer and Rockies' beat writer Tracy Ringolsby (using the handle "ballfan") all at the center of the shitestorm, and all participating in the dialogue.

I doubt that it's really Rob Neyer and Tracy Ringolsby, but rather people claiming to be them. My feeling on whether Neyer and Law should get ballots is that there needs to be some type of minimum amount of time working in print. A case could be made for Neyer, but not for Law. Keith Law hasn't been working for ESPN long enough. They can't just allow any person who works for the media for a few years ballots. Otherwise, Steve Phillips should get one, and so should a whole bunch of other people.

I've mentioned it a couple of times, but I would like to see Fukudome in our outfield if Rios goes. He's a lefty with tremendous on base ability and decent pop. He's only looking for a three or four year contract, which can be risky, but it's not a 6 year deal like Hunter or a 5 year deal like Drew. Wells in Center, Lind/Johnson in LF, Fukudome in RF sounds good to me. Johnson could sub in for Lind against lefties when they start or late in games. Stairs could back them all up as well as 1B and DH.

I really like the idea of having too many players for your positions - it's great to rest players, incites competition, and it covers you when one of them gets hurt. I made a short post about the '06 platoons here.

Sabean says he'll probably decide on Rios for Lincecum within the next couple of days.  He added, "...we want to get on to other business if we're going to pass on this".  Sounds like they're leaning against the trade, and he says he wants to try to get another pitcher to lessen the blow.http://www.mercurynews.com/giantsheadlines/ci_7669450?nclick_check&nclick_check=1

The following link works:

http://www.mercurynews.com/giantsheadlines/ci_7658658?nclick_check=1

Sebean actually said:

"By the end of the weekend, maybe the first of the week, we're going to have to flesh this out one way or the other," Sabean told the station. "We are juggling some other things and we want to get on to other business if we're going to pass on this."....Sabean hinted that he was trying to finagle another pitcher to "lessen the pain" of losing Lincecum.

I still think it's unlikely that Fukodome is being sought after by the Jays, but I'm starting to think that it might be a possibility.  Ricciardi probably knows by now what his chances are of extending Rios, which might be why he's offering Rios in trades.  Fukodome is a left-handed hitter, which the Jays could use, and Ricciardi loves guys who can get on base.  Rogers wants to make money, and signing a Japanese star could help in that regard.  The salary shouldn't be a big concern with $24 million in Glaus and Burnett likely coming off the books next year (or with Glaus perhaps 2009), and if Rios is moved even more money would be available.  The main reason why I was doubtful about the Jays being interested in Fukodome is that he would block Lind or Snider.  I'm starting to think otherwise.  With Stairs and Johnson in LF in 2008, Lind could stay in AAA and come up in 2009 to play LF, fill in at DH in 2010 and replace Overbay at 1B in 2011.  As an aside, is Lind's major league service clock ticking right now?  Snider might be ready in 2009, but it's just as likely that he splits 2008 between A+ and AA, starts 2009 in AAA and is a September call-up at age 21.

Finally, Blair did write in a recent blog that he had a hunch the Jays had a plan for an outfielder in the event Rios was moved, though the Jays management wouldn't comment.

What am I hearing? Baseball Prospectus'  Joe Sheehan's Friday afternoon "Chat" on the question "Fukodome - Pads, Cubs or Other ?" ...His answer : " Other. I think this one is going to come out of the blue " ... Hmm!  Should I read more than I should into that.

I think Fukudome goes to Dodgers "blue".  However, if the Jays by some miracle sign him it may take changing the name of the Rogers centre to the.....FUKU DOME!

M. Kemp, A. Ethier, J. Pierre, A. Jones. Unless they plan on trading one of their youngsters, there just isn't room in the Dodger OF.

Fukudome is hyped IMO. In average 500AB, H.Matsui hit 40HR in japan, Ichiro hit 20HR, Iguchi hit 24HR, K.Matsui hit 17HR, and Iwamura hit 26HR.

Their power numbers are declined when they comes to MLB. In 500AB, H.Matsui hit 20HR, Ichiro 8HR, Iguchi 14HR, K.Matsui 6HR, and Iwamura 7HR.

Fukudome? he hit 25HR in average 500AB in japan.. You can imagine he'll hit around .290/14HR.

Sure he's lefty with great OBP, good defense but 12M(if the rumor is correct) is too much for 30years old CF/OF.

I think Kemp and Laroche for Glaus and Marcum is possible, as well as Ethier and Laroche for Glaus and Janssen.

I had thoughts that maybe the "plates" that JP is spinning had something to do with the Dodgers asking the Jays to get Lincecum for them, knowing that the Giants wouldn't trade in the division.  Maybe the Dodgers had offered Kemp and Laroche or Elbert for Lincecum, if the Jays could snag him.  Or maybe Ethier, Laroche and Elbert for Lincecum and Glaus.

"I think 12M is the going rate on useful starting lineup type players. i wouldn't have a problem with that in this market. Especially having good OBP in the leadoff spot. "

he's not leadoff-type guy though he'll be one of the fastest guy when Rios goes..

I think he'll post similiar number with Iwamura. Not bad but not worth 12M..

Grasshopper,

the 5th spot in the rotation could be filled by Jannsen.  In the event of injury or meltdown, there's Litsch.  In a worst case scenario the Jays could fall back on Towers, Chacin, Banks, and maybe even Purcey or Romero, depending on how they were doing in the minors.  Wolfe has been mentioned as a possible starter, and of course there may even be Clement.  The Jays would be deep enough in starting pitching, if they got Lincecum, to fill in the 5th spot.  I'm not saying I wouldn't want Marcum, but in this totally hypothetical scenerio, it would be worth dealing him to receive Ethier and La Roche.

It appears Toronto is ranked the 5th worst place in America to be a baseball fan in the 21st street.

http://community.foxsports.com/blogs/btk85

Quite frankly I would much rather endure being a fan of the Jays then a fan of K.C, Baltimore, Texas, Tampa, Seattle, Minnesota, or Oakland.  In fact, it's been a pleasure watching them win two world series over the past 15 years.   How many other teams can say that even over the past 25 years?

I can also freely say that I go into most every year with justified hope that the Jays have a chance to make the playoffs.  (unlike the unwarranted hope I have for the Leafs).  The Jays never seem that far off.  It really is not that much different to being a fan of nearly any other AL team, save Anaheim, Boston, and Texas.

I had thoughts that maybe the "plates" that JP is spinning had something to do with the Dodgers asking the Jays to get Lincecum for them, knowing that the Giants wouldn't trade in the division.  Maybe the Dodgers had offered Kemp and Laroche or Elbert for Lincecum, if the Jays could snag him.  Or maybe Ethier, Laroche and Elbert for Lincecum and Glaus.

I doubt this entirely, if Ricciardi did this he would be seen by the baseball's GM's as undermining a trading partners competitive position and would likely suffer scorn from his peers and apprehension from trading partners in future.

Quite frankly I would much rather endure being a fan of the Jays then a fan of K.C, Baltimore, Texas, Tampa, Seattle, Minnesota, or Oakland.  In fact, it's been a pleasure watching them win two world series over the past 15 years.   How many other teams can say that even over the past 25 years?

I can also freely say that I go into most every year with justified hope that the Jays have a chance to make the playoffs.  (unlike the unwarranted hope I have for the Leafs).  The Jays never seem that far off.  It really is not that much different to being a fan of nearly any other AL team, save Anaheim, Boston, and Texas.

The Jays never seem that far off.  It really is not that much different to being a fan of nearly any other AL team, save Anaheim, Boston, and Texas.

Sorry that should have said Anaheim, Boston, and NYY.

How many other teams can say that even over the past 25 years?

Actually I looked it up.  Only the Yankees have WON more than 2 World Series over the past 25 years (actually they won 4).  Other than that, only Toronto, Florida, Minnesota, and Boston that have won more than 1 over the past 25 years (each having won two). 

Taking it one step further, over the past quarter century only 14 teams have merely APPEARED in a World Series multiple times.  They are NYY (6 apperances), St.Louis(4), Oakland(3), Boston(3), Toronto(2), Minnesota(2), Clevland(2), Detroit(2), Atlanta(5), Mets(2), Philadelphia(2), San Fransico(2), San Diego(2), & Florida(2).

So the Blue Jays are one of only seven AL teams that have appeared in the World Series over the past 25 years.  More importantly they are 1 of only 4 AL teams that have won the World Series over that period.  I will say it again, I don't know how it  can be so bad to be a Jays fan.  We have been treated very well and continue to have hope.

It appears Toronto is ranked the 5th worst place in America to be a baseball fan in the 21st street.

Well at least they didn't mention that H word.