NASHVILLE -- The ball is in the San Francisco Giants' court.
Or should we say the ball is waiting to be plunked into McCovey Cove as Blue Jays right fielder Alex Rios attempted to do during batting practice before the home run derby at AT&T Park, home of last season's all-star game.
The Jays asked the Giants for one of their two 23-year-old right-handers -- either Matt Cain (7-16, 3.65 ERA in 32 starts) or Tim Lincecum (7-5, 4.00 ERA in 24 starts). Jays manager John Gibbons says the Giants proposed the deal.
Whatever, but the deal is out there.
"We didn't have any dialogue with the Giants today," Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi told writers. "We'd be willing to do some things. We've put our hat into the ring."
The Giants and the New York Yankees have discussed left fielder Hideki Matsui for a starter. Matsui does have a complete no-trade clause.
"The hardest thing is to get a pitcher," Ricciardi said. "I'd rather not trade 1-for-1 -- a position player for a pitcher -- but as hard as it is to find a pitcher, you don't have any choice."
Adding to the speculation that Rios is on the move is that the Jays dealt for outfielder Buck Coats, from the Cincinnati Reds, yesterday. Ricciardi said Coats would play.
The Reds also are interested in Rios.
"I like Lincecum and hope we don't trade him," a Giants scout said. "I saw Rios plenty this season. He's a proven run producer and he's only going to get better. But the thing is with our club, we're not one hitter away, we need at least two proven hitters."
Ex-Jay Bengie Molina led the Giants last season with 81 RBIs.
The Jays and Giants have met twice regarding the deal.
"Lincecum throws 100 miles per hour. Heck, his change-up is 90 m.p.h. and we have some guys who can't hit 90 with their fastball," the Giants official said.
Other teams have heard the Jays' lobby speech and it goes like this: "They (Jays executives) will come up to you and tell you where they are," said an AL decision-maker. "They are telling clubs that they need a top-of-the-rotation starter, some relief help and a backup catcher. "Then, they say how they don't have to move Rios, but as anyone in this lobby knows, that, of course, means that they will move him."
Rios is the Jays' high card, the healthiest of the healthy after playing in 161 games last season.
"He's definitely the most marketable player we've got," Gibbons said. "He's an offensive everyday player and a two-time all-star. He's a young kid and the sky is the limit on what he might be able to accomplish."
Put all the plans together -- trying to get a Giants starter, moving Casey Janssen to the rotation, if bullpen help is acquired, maybe adding Matt Clement -- and the big picture shows that the Jays are trying to bulk up their rotation, despite the impressive seasons of Dustin McGowan, Shaun Marcum and Jesse Litsch, to go with Roy Halladay and A.J. Burnett.
Despite a New York report saying the Mets were interested in Burnett, Ricciardi said not one team has contacted the Jays about the oft-injured pitcher. In addition to Burnett, Ricciardi said no teams have inquired about third baseman Troy Glaus. The Jays are trying to bring free-agent catcher Paul LoDuca to town to share duties with Gregg Zaun.
Is Ricciardi worried about keeping up with the Joneses in the American League?
"The Red Sox are the same, the Yankees are status quo, so far," Ricciardi said. "Detroit is the team that has gotten stronger."
That we know after they added third baseman Miguel Cabrera and lefty Dontrelle Willis in an eight-player deal. What we don't know is if the Jays right fielder for next season will be Rios or a platoon of Reed Johnson and Matt Stairs.
