Move #1
Sign Manny Ramirez. The guy is a hitting machine and is going to go down as the best right handed hitter of all time. His defense is crappy, to say the least, but good thing the Jays are in the AL and he can DH. Let him get up there and just hit.
So far he has turned down a couple offers because he wants longer than just 2 years. My suggestion is 4 years $80 million and I'm sure he would be singing on the dotted line. The man will still be productive at that time and the way free agency is going these days in 4 years you will be paying guys twice that much.
Manny also hated all of the media attention in Boston because he said it was suffocating. Bring Manny to T.O where all people care about the Leafs and he will do fine. He will still get attention but he won't be crucified if he strikes out once in awhile.
Move #2
Dump Scott Rolen as fast as possible and get a real 3rd baseman. Where will this new 3rd baseman come from you ask? By trading Alex Rios for Ryan Zimmerman the Jays would lose one of their outfielders (which they have plenty to spare) and acquire one of the best young 3rd basemen in baseball.
Zimmerman is stuck in baseball hell aka playing for the Washington Nationals who are going nowhere and while Rios is a good player he will never be that franchise type guy. Moving Rios before he asks for a $100 million dollar deal would be a good call. As for Rolen you can try and trade him but since there is no market for washed up 3rd basemen who hit like my mother I suggest Cito take him out back and give him the Old Yeller treatment.
Move #3
Sign Ben Sheets. While he does have some injury problems in the past he is still a solid pitcher who can be effective when healthy. Over the past 3 seasons he is 31-21 with an ERA of around 3.50 and has consistently played in more games each year as well (17, 24, 31). Also Sheets would come cheap as his medical past has scared away teams as has the current economy. The Jays could pick him up for under $10 million and he could slide in as the #2 starter.
Move #4
Trade BJ Ryan and Rod Barajas to the St. Louis Cardinals for Yadier Molina. Now I know that you are reading this thinking the Cardinals would never go for that but trust me I think they would take the deal. The leading saves man on the Cards last year was Ryan Franklin with 17 while BJ Ryan had 32 in 36 opportunities. The Cards would get a proven closer who showed that he came back from Tommy John surgery real well and a replacement catcher for the departed Molina while the Jays would receive a talented young catcher who can hit and also play good defense.
As for the now vacant closer role in Toronto it could go to Jeremy Acardo, who showed he can handle the work load, or to either Brandon League and Jesse Carlson who are young, have proven effective, and seem to be ready to take that next step.
Move #5
Now this last move would not be popular among fans but it would help rebuild the team and would also give a true team player what he deserves. I suggest that at the trade deadline the Jays ask Roy Halliday which team he would like to be traded to and then trade him there.
This move would show a lot of class on Toronto's part as they would reward their ace for all his hard innings by allowing him to go to the playoffs and win a World Series (something he truly deserves). The Jays wouldn't simply be giving him away however as they would be GREATLY compensated for a player of Halliday's caliber.
By moving Halliday you would also free up another spot in the rotation for a young player to step in and try and prove himself.
Conclusion
After all of these moves have been made the Jays opening day roster would look like this:
C Yadier Molina
1B Joe Inglett
2B Aaron Hill
SS Johnny Mac
3B Ryan Zimmerman
DH Manny Ramirez
LF Adam Lind
CF Vernon Wells
RF Travis Snyder
SP Roy Halliday
SP Ben Sheets
SP Sean Marcum
SP Dustin McGowan
SP Jesse Litsch
The bullpen would remain the same or could be upgraded through trades of Rolen, Scutaro, and Overbay (who would be replaced by Joe Inglett). The team would be young but would still be able to compete. Power would be gained by adding Manny, Molina, and Zimmerman and the pitching staff would get a boost from Sheets. Johnny Mac would play short and hit 9th as his crappy batting average would still not cancel out his amazing defense. This team would be better, somewhat cheaper (after dumping the contracts of Ryan, Rolen, and Overbay), and younger. They may not make the post-season in '09 but they would be contenders and would have freed up funds to go after a big free agent in the next off season.
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