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1) Jose Bautista was out almost a week after hurting his shoulder against the Orioles on April 21 and going into Wednesday's game in Baltimore, was DH in 13 of Toronto's last 15 games (the other two as a pinch hitter). Now while he can't play in the outfield and there are days that he, "can't even comb his hair," Bautista maintains that it doesn't hurt to swing the bat. Is this helping or hurting the Blue Jays? Is it better that he stays away until he's fully healed and ready to throw?

When a player of mine was injured, the first question I would ask the doctor was, "What can he do without injuring himself any further?" Then I would ask, "Will his doing this or that in any way hinder the healing process?"  The doctor would typically give that age old recommendation, "If it hurts don't do it."  

There are so many questions swirling around the Blue Jays regarding Jose Bautista's shoulder. It was diagnosed as a strain. The doctors said there was no structural damage, just inflammation. The symptoms seem to contradict the diagnosis.  It is not normal that inflammation with no structural damage hasn't improved in three weeks.  Bautista still has not thrown a baseball.  

The fact that Bautista can hit and doesn't feel pain is a good sign. And obviously the doctors told him he was cleared to do so. That is the good news. The bad news is that he still can't throw.  

This makes Bautista exclusively a designated hitter. This in turn complicates John Gibbons' roster. Edwin Encarnacion was schedule to get the most at bats as the DH.  With Bautista in that spot, Encarnacion has to get his at bats while playing first base, which in turn plants Justin Smoak firmly on the bench. For now this is ok but at some point there will be a debt to pay. Edwin Encarnacion has a balky back and could get worn down playing first base everyday. Justin Smoak has a swing that needs frequent at bats to maintain and he isn't getting them. Gibbons loses the flexibility to DH Russell Martin when he wants to give him a day off from catching.  

The roster will become even more cumbersome when Dionner Navarro comes off the DL.  At that point he becomes one of three catchers and another DH candidate. The Jays may have to send Josh Thole down to AAA which means Russell Martin would have to catch RA Dickey. They could also option Steve Tolleson but that wouldn't do anything to rectify the glut of DH/1B types. This may mean that Justin Smoak is the odd man out. What is a GM to do?  The best laid plans often go astray.  

There are some who believe the Jays should shut down Bautista for a couple of weeks to allow him to heal so that they can get him back in the outfield.  There is no guarantee that would work and remember the doctor would have already said that his DHing is not hurting the healing process.  He can rebuild arm strength while on the active roster.  

There are some that say his power is reduced because of his ailing shoulder and he should be shut down in order to let it heal. Firstly, I don't believe that his power has been sapped because of the injury. More importantly, neither does Bautista. But even if he is diminished, 80 per cent of Jose Bautista is way better than anyone who can replace him.  

So a move to the DL just doesn't seem like a reasonable solution.  

So the Jays are stuck. Bautista's wounded wing will heal when it is ready. In the meantime the club is doing exactly what they should be: Get the most out of his bat and piece it together around him.  

2) The American League East is anyone's for the taking, including the Blue Jays. Pitching is a glaring weakness for them - do they have the assets to go for Cole Hamels or a disgruntled Jonathan Papelbon? What's the price to pay if they want to improve on the mound?

The Blue Jays are playing .500 baseball. They win some and they lose some. That is what happens when you try and win with offence and not pitching. This approach will allow them to stay competitive in this very flawed division, but it has zero chance of their separating themselves from the pack.  The Orioles and Red Sox are built the same way as the Jays.  The Rays are built around affordable pitching but unfortunately for them several of their young guns are injured. The Yankees are off to a good start but they still have age and a lack of starting pitching depth working against them.  

This division is winnable. It was last year too. Last season was the first time since 1993 that neither the Red Sox nor Yankees made the playoffs. And 2014 was a lost opportunity. This season will be the same unless the Jays get some pitching. The formula for winning is to have good pitching and enough offence. Not good offence and enough pitching.  

The Jays needed pitching in the offseason and they need it now.  Nothing has changed.  Believe it or not the Josh Donaldson trade was a mistake as was the Russell Martin signing. In know that may be considered blasphemy but it is true.  The number one priority heading into last season was not upgrading third base and catcher.  It was to improve the pitching staff. Alex Anthopoulos said, "When you get a chance to get a player like Josh Donaldson, you have to take it."  I don't blame him for wanting to do that.  Donaldson is a great player.  But in acquiring him the Jays traded minor league prospects that could have been used to acquire pitching.  I love Russell Martin.  He can play on my team anytime.  But by signing him they used dollars that could have been spent to bring in better pitchers throwing to last season's catchers.  

Effectively the Jays added to their strengths and neglected to address their greatest needs. It is a formula that won't win enough even in this flawed division.  Their pitching depth was compromised even before the season began when Marcus Stroman tore his ACL. One injury wiped out all the depth. That can't happen.  

So now what do the Jays do? They have to think outside of the box.  

They need pitching. They can't afford Cole Hamels contract and they don't have or are not willing to part with the prospects it will take to get them. They don't want to trade for Hamels' teammate Jonathan Papelbon either because of his $13 million vesting option for 2016.  

They need to trade a big bat and get major league-ready pitching.  The Jays need to trade Edwin Encarnacion or Jose Bautista and get the pitching they need.  This is complicated by the fact that Bautista is now a 10-and-5 player and has veto rights on any deal. It is the only way to add the depth of pitching they need.  

The New York Mets are desperate for offence and they have a ton of pitching depth.  The LA Angels, Cleveland Indians and Kansas City Royals have pitching depth and need some thunder. 

If the Jays can make a lesser deal for an Aaron Harang from the Phillies or a Mike Leake from the Reds and then make a blockbuster trading a big bat for pitching they would have a shot at winning this division. Short of that, the Jays have to hope that the entire division collapses and 84 wins captures the title.  

3) With a double-digit losing streak, the Colorado Rockies have plummeted at the bottom of the National League West and speculation is that Troy Tulowitzki is looking to part ways. If he is available, which teams do you see making a legitimate play for him - and at what cost?

Let me give you the player-speak on what this really means: Troy Tulowitzki met his agent for breakfast on Thursday morning in Los Angeles to discuss which teams he would like to go to when his agent demands a trade from the Rockies. He's gone.

It is about time. Of course, Rockies fans will be angry but it is the best thing for the organization right now. They can come in last place with him and they can come in last place without him.  

The Rockies' shortstop does not have a no-trade clause, but ownership made him a promise that if they ever wanted to trade him they would work with him on where he would be sent. As an organization they don't believe in no-trade clauses so their way around it was a handshake deal with their star.  There was speculation that both sides considered the possibility of a trade last winter but nothing ultimately happened.  

Tulowitzki's contract is a complication in any trade discussion. He entered the 2015 season with $118 million due him for six more years. He would receive a $2 million relocation bonus if he gets traded. A trade would also trigger a complete no-trade clause for the acquiring team. Plus, he can void the remainder of the contract if he gets traded.  

Any team that acquires him will have to have very deep pockets and be willing to commit to all six years of the deal. They may even have to throw in a "kicker" to get him to forego his right to void the deal.  

Injuries have hampered Tulowitzki throughout his career. He has only played more than 126 games once in the last five full seasons. The perception is that he can't stay healthy. Interested teams are going to have to decide if that is due to the high altitude in Colorado or whether it is just his nature.  Either way it will likely diminish his overall value in the eyes of those interested.  That calculation will determine the appetite clubs have to take on his entire salary and how much talent they would be willing to part with to acquire him.  

Finding teams that would be a fit is not difficult. The New York Mets and Yankees would both have some level of interest in him.  Remember Tulowitzki went to Yankee Stadium for a game last year to watch one of Jeter's final starts.  It caused quite a stir you may recall.  The L.A. Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres would all have a place for him. The Dodgers and Giants could move him to third base to complement Corey Seager and Brandon Crawford respectively. Whether the Rockies will move him in their own division is another story. The Angels would be a fit as would the Mariners and Rangers. The Astros could play him at third base next to their young phenom, Carlos Correia.  A case can be made that the Nationals and White Sox are possibilities as well. You get the point.  

If the Rockies want to trade him they will be able to find a taker that will take on some significant part of if not all of his salary. They will find takers willing to part with blue chip talent as well. It's just a matter of what combination of dollars and players makes the most sense and whether it is a location the player himself wants to go.  

If Troy Tulowitzki isn't traded by July 31, I'll be shocked.