By acquiring youngsters such as Anthony Gose and Cuban Adeiny Hechevarria to go with other highly talented high schoolers, the time line for when the Jays are ready to compete seems to have been pushed back.
General manager Alex Anthopoulos disagrees.
“I don’t think it impacts it,” he said. “We may make a trade a day from now or five months from now. I don’t think you can look at one trade specifically and say it’s going to impact the time line of being a World Series contender, a playoff-calibre team. But for us, when we have our opportunities to get what we feel are premium players at premium positions, if it makes sense for us we can’t be afraid to make those moves. So I think it’s too early to make a call like that, things are so fluid.”
NO WAY, JOSE?
So, is Thursday’s deal the last one Anthopoulos makes before Saturday’s non-waiver trade deadline?
“I don’t think we’re any more active,” Anthopoulos said. “But everyone’s active in fielding calls and exchanging ideas. I guess a lot of teams are in trade mode right now. Even though it looks like we might not have fits with certain teams, I think we’re going to go right up to the 31st until the time is up and continue to try to engage, try to come up with ideas but there’s no assurance we’re going to get anything done.”
CALENDAR BOY
RF Jose Bautista had his streak of hitting home runs in consecutive games end at three when he came up empty in Wednesday’s game against Baltimore. Still, he has hit 10 home runs in July which leads the major leagues.
The 10 homers leave him one shy of tying former RF Shawn Green for the most homers hit in franchise history in July with 11. If Bautista ends July with the highest number of homers in the majors, he will become the first Blue Jay in club history to lead the majors in home runs in any two months of the same calendar season. Bautista was tops in May with 12.
RECORD IN SIGHT
Speaking of home runs, with the one 1B Lyle Overbay hit in Wednesday’s spanking of the Orioles, the Jays have hit 40 home runs in the month of July, tops in the majors. The 40 homers are the third most in club history for the month topped only by the 44 they clubbed in July of 200 and the 42 they whacked in July of 1999. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, no club sine the 1976 Cincinnati Reds have led the majors in home runs in three of the first four months of a season. If they Jays finish July tops in home runs, they will join the Reds. The Jays led the majors in homers in April with 35 and May when they hit a club record 54. In June they hit 26 which tied them for 10th overall.
TRIBER TERROR
RHP Shaun Marcum will be looking for his first career victory against Cleveland when he makes the start Friday against the Indians. In seven appearances, including five starts, Marcum is 0-3 with a 5.34 ERA against the Indians. In 28 2/3 innings he has allowed 29 hits including seven home runs. The Indians are the only American League team that Marcum has yet to beat.
UP NEXT
Friday. Indians RHP Justin Masterson (3-9, 5.19) vs. Jays RHP Shaun Marcum (9-4, 3.36), 7:07 p.m., Sportsnet, Fan 590.
