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Toronto Blue Jays executives are heading to Baseball’s Winter Meetings in Orlando as eager shoppers, hoping to return with a sleigh full of players for the 2018 edition of the club.

The Jays’ shopping list has been partially satisfied with the recent additions of Aledmys Diaz and Gift Ngoepe. General manager Ross Atkins made it clear that adding depth in the infield, especially with the health concerns surrounding Troy Tulowitzki and Devon Travis, was a priority. Diaz is a versatile player who can command 600+ at-bats if needed as an everyday player at multiple positions.

The signing of Marco Estrada to a one-year extension in late September reduced the urgency to add starting pitching in 2018, but it doesn’t stand as an upgrade. The Jays expect a better year from Estrada, but bringing him back just maintains the status quo in the rotation.

Atkins recently repeated the Jays’ intent to add outfield depth and supplement the pitching staff. Those are clearly understood pursuits in an evaluation of the roster.

Fans always have big expectations at this time of year. They want their team to sign or trade for the biggest and best solutions at positions of need. I’m here to temper Toronto fans’ expectations for what they can expect to be the outcome of this year’s meetings.

The Jays are currently stuck between a rock and a hard place.

In a vacuum, one could see how a complete rebuild of the club makes perfect sense.  Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista are gone. Josh Donaldson is scheduled for free agency after 2018. They’re coming off a 76-86 season and fourth-place finish. The farm system was depleted by the deals to acquire Tulowitzki, David Price and others. The Jays have a couple of blue-chip prospects coming in Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., but the depth isn’t where they need it to be. Trading Donaldson, Marcus Stroman, Aaron Sanchez, Roberto Osuna and J.A. Happ could restock the system overnight.

On the other hand, one can see how going for it, at least for one more year, makes perfect sense. The Jays have Donaldson for at least one more season. There is still a solid, yet aging, core. Happ and Estrada are both inked for 2018, while the club maintains a few years of control over Stroman and Sanchez. Justin Smoak is coming off a career year. With some key additions and a few bounce-back performances, Toronto could compete in 2018.

The direction chosen by the Jays has been clearly stated by the front office. When asked if the team would trade Donaldson this off-season, the answer has consistently been only if the deal improves the club’s chances to win in 2018. So, every decision this off-season has been and will be to try and win in 2018.

That doesn’t mean winning in 2019 or 2020 is part of the plan. The only way that winning is the priority over rebuilding in 2019 and 2020 is if Donaldson is signed to a long-term deal. There still haven’t been any contract discussions between the sides, but they’ll have to talk soon after submitting salary figures for arbitration in January.

Whether the Jays make a deal with the star third baseman or not remains to be seen. But until there is a deal in place that changes the plan, every personnel decision will be about winning in 2018 and/or controlling affordable talent beyond next year.

So don’t expect any big Blue Jays deals in Orlando. Don’t expect a preemptive strike for J.D. Martinez or Jay Bruce. Yu Darvish and Jake Arrieta will likely get five-year deals for more than $100 million, which doesn’t fit the current direction of the organization. Logic dictates that the Jays will be looking for lesser players who will get lesser deals.

On talk the Jays are for sale

Rogers Communications, Inc.’s chief financial officer Tony Staffieri created a firestorm this week when he said the company would consider selling the team to raise capital for other investments.

Potential ownership changes can stimulate fear in a fan base, but everyone can take a deep breath. Even if Rogers sells the team, the games will go on. The club is in a healthy financial place and the prospect of a sale shouldn’t impact the baseball decisions in any dramatic way. 

Fans worry that the team won’t make long-term financial commitments because they don’t want an albatross hanging around the neck of the franchise that might scare away potential buyers.

Just to ease concerns, remember the Miami Marlins just sold for a premium value of $1.2 billion and they had the remaining 10 years and $295 million of Giancarlo Stanton’s trade-protected contract on the books. The Marlins payroll was a good $30-40 million beyond what was appropriate for the market size. Toronto is in a much better roster and budget position than the Marlins.

The slow hot stove season

All this talk about money has agents’ ears around baseball perking up. It’s been a very slow- moving hot stove season so far, but there is a tsunami of action coming. The Stanton trade discussions and Shohei Ohtani landing with the Los Angeles Angerls slowed things down to a snail’s pace.

Here is a look at the top 10 remaining free agents:

1. J.D. Martinez OF/DH

Scott Boras has declared Martinez the impact bat of the year. Certainly, the 45 homers he slugged in 119 games in 2017 justify the agent’s position. But Martinez, 30, isn’t overly athletic and is a liability defensively. He’s better suited in the American League with the DH role as an option, but there seems to be more interest from National League clubs. He fits well in Boston, but they seem to have backed off on him. His former club, the Arizona Diamondbacks, would love to have him back if the price is right. The Giants and Cardinals could both use his power bat as well. Remember, since he was traded at the deadline, he wasn’t eligible for a qualifying offer and the signing team won’t lose draft pick compensation. He fits best in St Louis.

2. Yu Darvish SP

The four-time All Star starter had another quality season, splitting time with the Rangers and Dodgers. He averaged more than 10 strikeouts per nine innings. Darvish, 31, will be highly sought after by contenders despite a postseason collapse. The Dodgers are considering him but so are the Phillies, Cubs, Twins and Mariners. He feels like a great fit in Seattle. There’s no compensation attached to signing Darvish because of his in-season trade.

3. Jake Arrieta SP

The former Cubs ace is looking for his first big payday. Boras has been waiting to take him to the open market. The 2015 Cy Young award winner’s performance has slipped each of the last two years but he’s still a front-end-of-the-rotation arm. He has some delivery quirks that may be challenging with age, but he will get paid. The Brewers, Rangers, Angels, Twins and Mariners are all interested. He grew up in Texas and went to TCU.  He fits with the Rangers best.

4. Eric Hosmer 1B

Hosmer has been an every-other-year guy. His OPS has fluctuated over the past six years (.799/.663/.801/.716/.822/.761/.882).  If past performance is any indicator of the future, someone will overpay for Hosmer off of his excellent 2017. He has been tied to the Red Sox, Mets, Royals, Padres, Cardinals and Angels. I think he fits the Red Sox the best because he drives the ball to left centre field and the Green Monster would be a huge positive factor.

5. Mike Moustakas 3B

Moustakas is a hard-nosed, gritty player. He is all baseball, all the time. He is a solid defender who will continue to improve as he gets further away from his ACL surgery of 2016. Moustakas slugged a franchise-record 38 homers in 2017. He is a solid, consistent left-handed power-hitting third baseman. The Royals would love to have him back but the market will probably lead Moustakas elsewhere. He has been tied to the Angels, Mets, Cardinals, Twins, Giants, and Braves as well. He would be the best fit for the New York Mets.

6. Jay Bruce OF

The Mets couldn’t find a taker for Bruce’s one-year, $13-million contract last off-season. He went out and put up a big offensive season with the Mets and Indians in 2017. He had a combined .832 OPS with 36 homers and a .508 SLG.  Plus, his defence in right field was well above average. He has been tied to the Mets, Cardinals, Indians, Blue Jays and Giants. His bat would be great in Toronto but his contract won’t fit the plan unless the Jays sign Donaldson. He fits best back in Cleveland.

7. Lorenzo Cain OF

Cain, 31, is a solid consistent everyday centre fielder. He can go get the ball in the field and is a good hitter with a little power and even more speed. Clubs tend to be wary of speed players beyond the age of 32, which could hamper his deal. The Mariners had interest, but with the acquisition of Dee Gordon to play centre field it’s no longer a fit. The Royals would consider bringing him back, but only after he exhausts the rest of the market. He has also been tied to the Mets, Rangers, Giants and Jays. The Mets could really use him in centre field and seem to be the best fit.

8. Wade Davis RP

The Cubs rode Davis hard and he rewarded them with a great 2017. He will be the most coveted closer available in the market. The Cubs will need to replace him if they don’t resign him. There will be plenty of competition. The Cardinals, Nationals, Astros, Diamondbacks, Rockies and Rangers have all been mentioned. I think a move to the Cardinals makes the most sense. It would be a double win for the Cards as they would get him and force the Cubs to go in another direction. Remember, Davis did reject a qualifying offer.

9. Lance Lynn SP

Predictability is a key for playoff contenders. There is a real value in handing the ball to a starter every fifth day and knowing what you are going to get. Lynn keeps his team in every game. Just a year removed from Tommy John surgery, he proved his competitiveness and toughness in 2017. His strikeout numbers dropped but he is still a workhorse. He makes sense for many clubs. He has been tied to the Rangers, Orioles, Twins, Angels, Mariners, Phillies, Cubs, and Brewers. His best fit overall is with the Brewers, staying in the NL Central.

10. Greg Holland RP

Holland bounced back from Tommy John surgery in Colorado. He had a great start to the season but struggled some in the second half. He did show the belly full of guts that a closer needs. He will be highly coveted in this closer-lite market.  All of the clubs interested in Davis will be interested in Holland: the Cardinals, Nationals, Astros, Diamondbacks, Rockies and Rangers.  He feels like the best fit back in Colorado. Not many pitchers can thrive there. Once they get their hands on one they can’t let him go.