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Some day the departure of Roy Halladay may be seen as the resurrection of the Blue Jays franchise: The dawn of a brighter, better era.
But not today. Today there is just resignation, a hint of sadness and a starting rotation that looks more bottom-heavy than the season-opening episode of The Biggest Loser.
While the clubhouse nameplates have not all yet been nailed down at new postal codes, the end result of this trade will see the Jays not getting anyone to replace Halladay or the 200-plus innings he chewed through each year. Actually, they didn't even get anyone to replace Scott Richmond, or whomever ends up filling the No. 5 slot in the rotation.
In the future? Great things are predicted of Kyle Drabek. The former No. 1 pick was 12-3, 3.19 ERA in single- and double-A last season. That makes him one of the most coveted pitchers not yet in the majors. But at the moment he's targeted to start next season with Toronto's triple-A club. And, as a wise, old scout once noted, the true definition of "prospect" is just someone who hasn't done anything yet.
The Jays rotation next season looks like it will include a lot of guys who haven't done anything or, at least not anything that would indicate they'll be solid everyday major leaguer starters for the next decade.
The opening day starter figures to be Shaun Marcum, who didn't pitch at all last year while recovering from Tommy John surgery. If he has any setbacks the job will fall to Ricky Romero, 13-9 but still basically a kid learning the ropes. After that this is a rotation of No. 4 and 5 starters, rookies and unproven wannabes and might be's.
Jesse Litsch could be a No. 3 starter except that he isn't expected back from elbow surgery until mid-season. So, the job falls to Marc Rzepczynski. He looked sensational at times last summer but he's a veteran of just 11 major-league starts. The dilemma is not lost on manager Cito Gaston who has lost his slump-buster.
"It's nice to have a guy around who can stop a losing streak," Gaston said. "We're going to have a lot of young guys with Doc not being there, and I think that's a problem we're going to have.
"We need to stay healthy ... last year the young kids stepped up and pitched well," Gaston said. "Rzepczynski, if he can come back and pitch like he did -- I mean, his record might not show how well he pitched, but if you look at what guys hit off him, he had a great year."
The last two slots in the rotation could be decided by pulling names out of a Blue Jays cap. David Purcey and Richmond are frontrunners but if Casey Janssen is healthy maybe he slides in with a good spring training. The Jays tried to fast-track 22-year-old lefty Brett Cecil last year with not entirely satisfactory results. Someday he and Drabek could top the rotation but not in 2010. Toronto also has Brad Mills but once again not yet major league ready.
All of which means Gaston, in his final year as manager, may have to put the number to the bullpen phone on speed dial.
BILL.LANKHOF@SUNMEDIA.CA