Chris Woodward returned from the disabled list a little less than a week ago. The Blue Jays placed Woodward on the DL at the end of June with a strained hamstring, but he seems fully recovered from the injury. Woodward reportedly canceled All-Star break plans with his wife in order to start a minor league rehab assignment early.

The 26-year-old middle infielder has really impressed the Blue Jays this year, leading to reports that GM J.P. Ricciardi thinks he could even be Toronto's shortstop of the future. Woodward currently has 23 H, 3 2B, 4 3B, and 4 HR with a 7:19 BB:K and 2/2 SB% in 80 AB for a .287 BA, .345 OBP, and .575 SLG.

However, Felipe Lopez would need to move to another position on the diamond or be traded in order for Woodward to permanently claim the starting job at short. Lopez could move to second, but then he would block Orlando Hudson, who for some reason has been left in AAA this year. Coming into the season, Hudson needed to develop his doubles power into home runs and Lopez needed to develop his plate discipline. Given their respective needs, I would have left Lopez in AAA and put Hudson in the majors as it should be much easier to improve power skills at the big league level than to develop strike zone judgment. Lopez's low OBP and BA indicate that he's not prepared for major league competition without improvement in his plate discipline. Meanwhile, Hudson is demolishing AAA and trading him in order to leave room for the others would be a big mistake.

Third base isn't available unless likely AL Rookie of the Year Eric Hinske moves to first base, which is unlikely to happen with Carlos Delgado on the team and would also detract from Hinske's value. The matter is further clouded by any number of less developed infield prospects in Toronto's minors, but ultimately they likely shouldn't go out of their way to accommodate Woodward, whose plate discipline still needs work before he receives full-time major league at-bats. Woodward is also older than almost all of the other potential starters.

During his time on the DL, Toronto replaced Woodward on the roster with Pedro Swann. Aside from a brief debut with Atlanta in 2000, the 31-year-old Swann has spent the last four years at AAA. The outfielder has displayed sporadic strike zone judgment, complimented by small amounts of both speed and power. Swann returned to the minors when the Blue Jays activated Woodward, leaving Toronto with no outfielders on the bench, as the team replaced the traded Raul Mondesi on the roster with Josh Phelps.

Considering the Blue Jays want Shannon Stewart, Vernon Wells, and Jose Cruz, Jr. in almost every inning, they could theoretically get by without an extra outfielder. Toronto activated Stewart from the disabled list in mid-May, filling the roster spot of the traded Pedro Borbon. Stewart's had a few problems with his hamstring since returning but nothing serious. However, Cruz has been sidelined with a sore hamstring for the last three days, leaving Dave Berg and Tom Wilson to cover right field. Cruz is expected back in the lineup tomorrow, but this isn't a situation the Blue Jays should allow to occur again. Particularly with the homefield turf, Toronto's outfielder will need days off, which means they have to have at least a fourth outfielder.

Ricciardi really needs to make a decision regarding his catchers. The Blue Jays have three catchers on the roster with Wilson, Darrin Fletcher, and Ken Huckaby. Additionally, though they're not in the majors as catchers, Josh Phelps caught at AAA this season while Joe Lawrence started at catcher in the minors last year.

Toronto needs to find Fletcher, Huckaby, or Wilson a new home, and right now Fletcher seems to be the best candidate. They're using Wilson in the outfield occasionally and probably like that flexibility. Fletcher's the oldest of the three at 35, though he's also the only lefty. Huckaby was sent down when they activated Fletcher from the disabled list in late-May, but the Blue Jays recalled him in early June and he's now starting. That roster move precipitated their current predicament, as at that time Toronto demoted Brian Lesher, who was then their fifth outfielder.

The reason Fletcher likely remains on the Blue Jays is that he's slated to earn $3.6M this season and even has a $4M team option for next year with a $400,000 buyout. Consequently, if they want him off the roster, Toronto will likely need to merely release him and eat the rest of his salary. I really consider it a waste to when teams take such actions, but it's more important for them to have the roster spot available now to create the best major league environment for their young players' development.

If Ricciardi had been on his toes, he would have required the Yankees to take Fletcher in the Mondesi deal, but that trade reportedly came together very quickly, possibly without direct action from either teams' GM. I wouldn't be at all surprised if New York signed Fletcher to a minimum wage contract once he's a free agent. The Cubs are another team that might be interested once the price tag decreases.

Moving a catcher would make room for an obviously necessary fourth outfielder. Their best internal choices would be to either recall Swann or promote Chad Mottola; both are better options Brian Lesher, though he could also fill the role.