Toronto Blue Jays still have a lot to prove – MLB News
For years, the Tampa Bay Rays have believed the Blue Jays could be a dangerous team if they had a decent pitching attack. After the Blue Jays finalised a 12 player blockbuster deal with the Miami Marlins, it seems the Blue Jays will have a decent pitching
attack now.
The likes of Mark Buehrle and Josh Johnson, who are acquired from the Marlins, are certainly capable of beating any team in the American League East Division. The Blue Jays also signed on a two year $16 million contract with outfielder Melky Cabrera to add
some bats to an already impressive line-up.
The Rays looked set to reach the playoffs in September but the Baltimore Orioles played out of their skin in closing stages of the season to spoil their party. Joe Maddon and his team eventually finished third on the AL East Division standings table. The
Blue Jays will be definitely looking to do the same in the next season, which is to spoil the Rays’ party.
"It definitely puts them right in contention. There's no question," Rays’ manager Joe Maddon said. "Their pitching staff got better, and it got more veteran, which they had not been among the starters. The team on the field has been offensive. They got more
offensive. They got faster. (Former Marlins utility player Emilio) Bonifacio, I really dig him, man. That guy is a pain. They added speed, they added presence and their pitching staff got better just because of the mentoring ability, say, of Buehrle among
all these other guys."
Although the Blue Jays have improved significantly on a paper, they still have to be prove on the fielder; something the Boston Red Sox were unable to do last season. The Red Sox had some of the best hitters and pitchers on their big league roster in 2012
but they finished at the bottom of the AL East.
Maddon is convinced the Blue Jays will be tougher and better than ever before. However, just by adding a few good players to the batting line-up, the Blue Jays cannot win the title. It will be interesting to see the way the Rays react to the Blue Jays-Marlins
deal.
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