The Winter Meetings begin next week and sportswriters are already complaining about free accomodations. Anyway, the Jays shouldn't be expected to make any bold moves, but youneverknow.

"Our approach will be a little different in the sense that we're not going there sitting on a free agent or waiting on a free agent, but we are going there trying to be as aggressive as we can," Ricciardi said in an interview this week. "What this will allow us to do is really sit back and ask clubs point blank, 'What are you trying to do? Would you do this for this?' It gives us a chance to put as many plates in the air as possible."

When Jason Kendall gets $4.25 million guaranteed from the Brewers you know there's not many catchers available this offseason.

This article in the Sun again mentioned the Jays retaining Josh Towers.

The Jays claimed St Louis minor league OF Cody Haerther yesterday and added him to the 40 man roster.

And Ricciardi claimed the Jays weren't going to make major moves this offseason!

Thanks to melondough for the tip.

Jon Heyman at CNNSI.com predicts the contracts of the top free agents this offseason.

The GM meetings have started up and Ricciardi says that the Jays are open to listening to offers on AJ Burnett.

Update:  Ricciardi takes it back.

The Jays picked up a couple players off of waivers from the Reds according to a press release on TSN. In a related move the Jays outright DeJong, Gronkiewicz, and Vermiliyea to Syracuse.

Thanks to Brian W for the heads up.

The new hitting coach, Gary Denbo, comes from the Yankees minor leagues.  As with most hires they sound good when they happen.  We'll see if there's any noticable change next year.

The latest on injuries, according to MLB.com:

• Overbay out with a hand injury & will have another surgery
  
• Downs out with a foot injury
• Glaus had successful surgery
• BJ Ryan has begun light throwing
  

Buster Olney reports the Jays are close to signing John McDonald to a 2 year extension for about $2 million/year.

EDIT:  Jeff Blair reports that it's 2 years at $1.9 million/year.

Here's a dumb and pointless exercise. But when it comes to dumb and pointless exercises, I'm your man.

How bad have J.P. Ricciardi's drafts been?

I just posted a piece where I suggested that Walt Jocketty trading Danny Haren and Daric Barton for Mark Mulder looks like one of the worst transactions perpetrated by a current general manager.

What are the other contenders?

Let us consider who should be taking home the Cy Young Award this year. In one league, it's a pretty easy choice. In the other, not so much.

There are prizes involved. Not for any of us, but the Rookie of the Year gets a shiny trophy. Who's it going to be?

Gus Chacin had shoulder surgery earlier this week.  There apparently was a small rotator cuff tear that was repaired and according to the article Ricciardi said he should be ready for spring training.

Vernon Wells also has a shoulder issue, but not enough of one to stop playing, or even have an MRI on it.  But he will have an MRI after the season.  This seems a little silly to me, no?