Interesting piece in today's Globe from Jeff Blair. The Jays brass, apparently, has been sufficiently impressed with Frank Catalanotto that they're planning to bring him back in 2003 as their everyday left fielder. The Cat himself says that left field is his favoured position going forward, and that he quite likes being in Toronto.
This isn't really a shock. The Blue Jays have three outfield prospects in the majors or higher minors: Jayson Werth, Gabe Gross and John-Ford Griffin. Werth, if all goes well with his part-time play this season, ought to be the everyday right fielder next season. Gross has been ripping the cover off the ball in his second go-round at AA, and will almost certainly show up in Syracuse later this year. Griffin is just a step behind Gross, both in terms of development and defence. But neither Gross nor Griffin will likely be ready for 500 productive ABs in the majors next year, and Cat would make perfect sense to be the new leadoff hitter in '03.
About the only surprising thing is that Shannon Stewart's departure is being talked about so openly. But I suppose even Shannon knows this is his farewell tour in a Jays uniform. Indeed, if Werth holds his own through June, Shannon will almost certainly be dealt by the trading deadline or -- if JP doesn't like what's being dangled in return -- will be offered arbitration so that the team can take the first-round draft pick upon his departure. The wheels keep turning.
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20030424102952999