Toronto has been active in the free agent market, making some of the first signings of the season. The Blue Jays signed Doug Creek to a one-year deal worth $700,000 just a couple days after the World Series concluded. His contract includes a club option for 2004 at $800,000. Some people disliked this signing, but I think GM J.P. Ricciardi made a sound move.

Creek didn't have a great year, posting a 5.82 ERA on a 56:35 K:BB with 57 H and 10 HR allowed in 55.2 IP. However, the 34-year-old's displayed better skills in the past and had personal problems in 2002 that probably interfered with his effectiveness. Creek also excels as a left-handed specialist rather than in the expanded role in which both Tampa Bay and Seattle attempted to use him. Ricciardi may prove to have Billy Beane's weakness for expensive lefty relief, but Creek's considerably less expensive than Beane's three Mikes and should perform better. Unfortunately, Toronto's already discussing using him in a non-specialist role, so I don't expect this to work out very well.

The Blue Jays also signed Jeff Tam to a one-year major league deal for which we don't know the price. The A's held a $1.2M option on Tam, which they declined, paying him a $50K buyout. While Creek has some upside, I'm very disappointed in this move. Even if they're paying Tam minimum wage, Toronto's paying too much for the 32-year-old. This season Tam posted a 5.13 ERA on a 14:13 K:BB with 56 H and 2 HR allowed in 40.1 IP. His skills are beyond poor, and the Blue Jays should have been able to find any number of pitchers better qualified to pitch in a major league pen.

While the major league signings have garnered the attention, Toronto's also been quite active on the minor league front, acquiring some of the depth they could have used last season. Over the past couple weeks they've signed RHP Doug Linton, LHP Trever Miller, RHP Evan Thomas, RHP Josh Towers, LHP Tim Young, OF Bruce Aven, IF Howie Clark, IF Mike Moriarty, and OF Rob Ryan ml TOR to minor league contracts.

Linton's a 37-year-old AAAA right-handed starter. He's bounced between AAA and the majors for the last decade. Linton had a very good year with Atlanta's AAA franchise at Richmond, posting a 2.53 ERA on a 160:26 K:BB with 167 H and 14 HR allowed in 174 IP over 28 GS. He's struggled with baserunners during his past major league time, allowing too many walks and hits. However if 2002 wasn't merely the last hurrah of an old pitcher, Linton should pitch well for the AAA Syracuse and provide the Blue Jays with a potential spot starter.

Detroit drafted Miller out of high school with the 41st overall pick in the first round of the 1991 draft, though he's obviously failed to live up to their expectations. The 29-year-old Miller moved almost exclusively to relief in 2002 for the first time in his minor league career. In the past the lefty had worked as a starter in the minors, despite normally pitching in relief during his major league time. Miller found success in relief with the Reds' AAA affiliate at Louisville in 2002, compiling an 80:23 K:BB with 76 H and 6 HR allowed in 82 IP for a 3.18 ERA. He should compete for a bullpen job in Spring Training, and while he likely won't break camp with the team, Miller should provide them with a quality back-up lefty reliever in AAA in case of injury or ineffectiveness in their major league pen.

Philadelphia drafted Thomas out of Florida International University in the 10th round of the 1996 draft, and after seven years in their system he became a minor league free agent. Primarily a starter, the right-hander has displayed just below acceptable skills at AAA for the past three seasons. I'm most concerned about his command problems, as he either needs to walk fewer batters or preferably increase his strikeout rate. Thomas shouldn't be at the top of Toronto's list of potential spot starters, but the 28-year-old could still develop into a decent bottom of the rotation starter or more likely a good middle reliever.

The 25-year-old Towers also experienced free agency for the first time this off-season. This signing will only work well for the Blue Jays, if they have a plan to move him to relief. Towers has thoroughly demonstrated over the past three seasons that he does not have the skills to start even at AAA let alone in the majors. I hope he won't spend anytime with the major league team unless he's first torn up Syracuse in a relief role.

Young returned to minor league baseball in 2002 after spending 2001 in Japan. The 29-year-old has been a reliever since he was first drafted in 1996. This season for the first time since 1998, his control approached acceptable levels. His numbers with Boston's AAA affiliate at Pawtucket weren't overwhelming, so I don't think he's really ready for a major league job. However, if he continues to improve at Syracuse, he could develop into an acceptable major league lefty.

Toronto certainly needed to add some outfield depth, as we witnessed the shallowness of the organization's outfield talent last season. Aven's bounced between AAA and the majors for the last half-dozen years. He bats right with some power, though at 30 any speed he possessed in his younger days is gone. The Blue Jays were likely attracted to him because he appears to have developed good plate discipline in the last season, compiling a 50:56 BB:K in 324 AB split between AAA Buffalo and AAA Scranton-Wilkes Barre. Particularly if he can repeat that performance in 2003, Aven should be a good player for Toronto to have stashed at Syracuse in case they need a reserve.

Clark's displayed good plate discipline for several years in the minors, but until this season the Orioles never bothered to promote him to the majors. The 28-year-old has some position flexibility and might be a solid choice as a bench guy for the Blue Jays. I expect him to compete for a position in Spring Training and at worst provide injury insurance at AAA. He bats left and appears to have developed some additional power with age, which should work in his favor. Another 28-year-old player that spent last season with the Orioles, Moriarty has fewer on-base skills than Clark, but he can cover shortstop and is a right-handed bat.

Ryan provides the left-handed compliment to Aven. The 29-year-old's plate discipline comes and goes, but he has a little bit of power. Like Aven, he'd be an acceptable replacement depending on what the Blue Jays need during the season.