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GET THEM SIGNED
The Blue Jays, like most teams in the majors, have not signed their top five picks from the 2009 draft. If the players aren't signed by Aug. 17, then the players re-enter the draft and the teams are given compensatory picks in next year's draft.
Historically, most players sign, but only at the deadline. GM J.P. Ricciardi thinks the deadline should be shortened because the players are the ones who suffer, missing a summer of playing.
"We're not talking 1940 anymore when a guy drives up and says: 'I'll give you a glove and a bottle of Coke.' Those days are over," he said. "Everybody knows what the money is. No player is signing and saying: 'I really got (shafted)' The money's really good. Maybe we should put a shorter deadline."
TAKING IT SLOW
With only pride to play for over the last six weeks, the Jays are going to preserve some of their pitchers' arms. That includes Shaun Marcum, who had originally hoped to be back this season from elbow surgery last September, Brett Cecil and Marc Rzepczynski .
"(Marcum) is healthy," Ricciardi said. "There's nothing wrong with him but there's no need to rush him. There's really no need to get him to the big leagues at this point.
"We're going to check Cecil and Rzepczynski on their innings and I'm going to say that by the middle of September, they'll be shut down."
UP NEXT
Tonight: Blue Jays Scott Richmond (6-6, 3.97) at New York Yankees Joba Chamberlain (8-2, 3.73), 7:10 p.m., SNO/Fan 590.
