MLB Baseball Betting - Toronto Blue Jays

Manager: John Gibbons (fourth full season).

2007: 83-79, third place, AL East

Training: Knology Park, Dunedin, Fla.

Home Park: Rogers Centre, Ontario, Can., Cap. 50, 516, Fieldturf, Opened June 5, 1989.

World Series Titles: (2) 1992, 1993.

Acquisitions: C Rod Barajas, RHP Armando Benitez, RHP Shawn Camp, RHP Lance Carter, OF Buck Coats, SS David Eckstein, LHP Mike Gosling, SS Pedro Lopez, LHP John Parrish, 3B Scott Rolen, INF Marco Scutaro, OF Shannon Stewart, RHP Randy Wells

Departures: 3B Troy Glaus, OF Cody Haerther, SS Ray Olmedo, RHP Ty Taubenheim, RHP Josh Towers

Outlook: The Toronto Blue Jays had a fine season last year that produced a very respectable winning record. Unfortunately, the Jays reside in the same division as two of the best teams in baseball, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees.

Nevertheless, the Blue Jays have made some solid additions this offseason, upping their payroll to $93 million in the process and now believe they are ready to overtake both clubs as they search for the AL East title.

Toronto has what appears to be an excellent starting pitching staff featuring perennial Cy Young award contender Roy Halladay, and veterans, A.J. Burnett, Dustin McGowan, Shaun Marcum, and Jesse Litsch.

Closer Jeremy Accardo recorded 30 saves in 35 chances, but the Blue Jays will need competent pitching from setup men, Scott Downs, Brandon League, Jason Frasor, Brian Tallet and Randy Wells in order to get the ball into Accardo’s capable hands. The Jays will also get a huge boost from closer B.J. Ryan when he returns in late Aprill or early May.

Toronto added veterans David Eckstein, who will bat leadoff, and Gold Glove-winning third baseman, Scott Rolen, but will be without Rolen as he broke his finger recently and will miss the start of the regular season. Utility infielder Mark Scutaro will take over at third base in Rolen's absence.

Center fielder Vernon Wells and first baseman Lyle Overbay are ready to bounce back after mediocre seasons in 2007 and Frank Thomas and Vernon Wells will need to up their production in 2008 after so-so seasons last year.

Veteran outfielders Shannon Stewart and Matt Stairs will split time in leftfield while Greg Zaun and Rod Barajas will split time at catcher.

If the Blue Jays can stay relatively healthy all season long, they could challenge the Yankees and Red Sox for division supremacy.

The Blue Jays are listed at +3500 to win the 2008 World Series in the BetUS Sportsbook. Check out all the latest MLB odds in the futures section of the BetUS Sportsbook.

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Official Website: www.torontobluejays.com