Alex Anthopoulos shared his blueprint for the first time yesterday.
The Blue Jays general manager's long-term goals are 95-win seasons through an on-field product built by scouting and player development.
He said the Jays "aren't rebuilding," rather they are "building."
"This isn't going to be a quick fix. We won't sacrifice the ability to have a long, sustained run," Anthopoulos said. "We're not going to put all our eggs in one basket for one year at taking a shot at winning and sacrifice four years down the road. When we do get to the point where we are winning, we can sustain it."
In the long term, the Jays probably will trade right-hander Roy Halladay and, in the short term, try to add Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Chris Snyder.
Anthopoulos, along with Tony LaCava, vice-president, and Perry Minisian, head of pro scouting, will be in Chicago tomorrow for the start of the annual GMs meetings.
The Jays and Arizona have discussed dealing first baseman Lyle Overbay for Snyder.
Snyder played in 61 games and had back surgery in September. He hit .200 with six homers and 22 RBIs in 61 games, a year after hitting .237 with 16 homers and 64 RBIs in 115 games. Overbay hit .265 with 16 homers and 64 RBIs in 132 games this season, his fourth with the Jays.
Snyder, who turns 29 in February, is owed at least $11.25 million US through 2011 ($4.75 million next season, $5.75 million in 2011 with a $6.75 million option, with a $750,000 buyout in 2012. Overbay will earn $7 million next season.
Calling Halladay "probably the greatest, if not the greatest, to put on the (Jays) uniform," and stating that he did not want to deal the former Cy Young Award winner, Anthopoulos may have to at some point.
"He wants to win and, really, at this time, we were a 75-win team last year," Anthopoulos said. "Roy's stated his timeline for winning and ours may not mesh right now."
With not a strong list of free-agent starters, it may be better for the Jays to move Halladay in the off-season rather than at the July 31 trade deadline, which is what J.P. Ricciardi tried to do earlier this year.
"I've never believed in waiting to the meetings to start talking to teams," Anthopoulous said discussing trades in general. "The meetings give me a chance to push things forward dealing face to face."
Anthopoulos didn't give an exact number for the Jays team payroll for 2010, but said Rogers Communications would give him money down the road, which "certainly can be up there with Anaheim, the Chicagos and even with Boston."
BOB.ELLIOTT@SUNMEDIA.CA
