The guys who are free agents who don't cost a draft pick, or more than the ML minimum, is out with over 500 names to choose from.  Can any help the Jays?

Congratulations to Andrew Bailey, winner of the 2009 AL Rookie of the Year award -- he probably shouldn't have won it, frankly, but the voters seem inclined to live by the mantra "when in doubt, give it to an Oakland Athletic" --he's the seventh Oaklander to win it since 1986. (The Jays have one in that time, the immortal Eric Hinske, and just one-and-a-half all-time total, to include 1979 co-winner Alfredo Griffin.)

That niffiness aside, I found myself thinking, "Bailey is a pretty common surname. I bet we could build a pretty good historical Hall of Names team of Baileys -- you know, call them the Irish Creams, the whole deal."

Boy, was I wrong ...

Chris Coghlan of the Florida Marlins may be pouring a cocktail or two today as he wins the National League Rookie of the Year award.

TSN.ca, via Jeff Blair of the Globe & Mail, says the Blue Jays have interest in Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips.  The same story also mentions the Red Sox are interested in Jays shortstop Marco Scutaro according to ESPN.com's Peter Gammons.

According to reports, Oakland A's relief pitcher Andrew Bailey is the American League Rookie of the Year, receiving 13 of 28 first-place votes and 88 points. Texas Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus was the runner-up with 65 points, one ahead of Detroit Tigers RHSP Rick Porcello.

I think they got the top three right, but frankly, I would have gone Andrus-Porcello-Bailey or even Porcello-Andrus-Bailey. Your thoughts, noble Bauxites?

The wrist surgery for Vernon Wells went "well" (get it?) according to bluejays.com's Jordan Bastian.  The 30 year-old center fielder is expected to be ready for the start of spring training next year.

The Hardball Times rates outfielder Johermyn Chavez as the Jays best minor league prospect in its top 10 list.  The minor league crew at Batter's Box had Chavez at #12 in the top 30 list which you can check out here, here and here. 

The Jays Triple-A all-star representative gets the limelight in the world wide web phenomenon known as the Batter's Box POTD. ;D

Congratulations to second baseman Aaron Hill and designated hitter Adam Lind for winning Silver Slugger Awards for 2009 according to Jordan Bastian from bluejays.com.  A tip of the graphite Jays cap to Bauxite perlhack for the heads up.

The 2009 American League Gold Glove Awards have been "handed" out and are presented here entirely without comment from Batter's Box, as a means of inviting your comments and corrections, Bauxites around the world ...

The Jays have added first baseman/DH Brian Dopirak to the 40-man roster and also acquired utility man Mike McCoy off the waiver wire from the Colorado Rockies.

This Blue Jay was on the verge of going back to the team he began his major league career with.  He's the subject of our POTD.

Alex Anthopoulos has completed his due diligence with the players, coaches, other GM and agents and he held a conference call today to answer questions about his plans.  The conference call can be heard here.  The call is 35 minutes long.

It's easier than you might think.

The biggest sports news involving the states of Wisconsin and Minnesota since Brett Favre took place Friday as the Brewers and Twins completed a trade.   One of the principles of that deal is the subject of our POTD.