Looking Around The AL East - Toronto Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays had their third consecutive fourth place finish in 2012 when they finished with a 73-89 record in the AL East. The Jays reloaded this off season with a monster trade with the Miami Marlins and another notable trade with the New York Mets for the 2012 reigning National League Cy Young Award winner RA Dickey. Will it be enough to finally topple the usual suspects in the very deep American League East? Let's take a look an analyze the Blue Jays off season and how it should affect their 2013 on the field product.

I have put each players WAR from 2012 in parenthesis next to their name.

Additions:

• Melky Cabrera (4.7)
• Maicer Izturis (0.1)
• Henry Blanco (-0.2)
• Mark DeRosa (-0.8)
• Darren Oliver (1.9)

Subtractions:

• John Buck (0.4)
• Travis d'Arnaud (minor leagues)
• Jeff Mathis (0.8)
• Kelly Johnson (1.4)
• Yunel Escobar (2.5)
• Adeiny Hechavarria (0.0)
• Mike Aviles (2.0)
• Scott Cousins (-1.0)
• Henderson Alvarez (0.1)
• Jason Frasor (0.3)
• David Herndon (0.0)
• Brandon Lyon (1.2)
• Scott Maine (-0.3)
• Carlos Villanueva (1.2)

Notable Trades:

• Acquired Mark Buehrle (3.2)
• Acquired Josh Johnson (3.1)
• Acquired Jose Reyes (2.8)
• Acquired John Buck (0.4)
• Acquired Emilio Bonifacio (0.5)
• Acquired RA Dickey (5.6)

The Toronto Blue Jays went all in this off season while taking advantage of yet another Miami Marlins fire sale and a fiscally troubled Mets team to improve their team. The AL East, no matter who says what, is still the most competitive division in all of baseball and I do not expect the Blue Jays to finish in fourth place of it AGAIN. With all the big time additions already being added to a fantastic core of Brett Lawrie, Ricky Romero, etc this team could be special if everyone lives up to expectations. I obviously do not see RA Dickey replicating his 2012 season and I am not entirely sold on Josh Johnson because he has not given anyone any kind of consistency in his career, especially in the health department, but this team still has the ability to go far. According to WAR they added around 15 wins to their total from last season but 15 wins would only improve them to a 89-73 record so it will be interesting to see just what happens in 2013 up in Toronto.

2013 Predictions: 91-71 record 3rd place finish