You Have My Permission to Pick the Jays to Be Contenders

Ok, in 2013 I'm giving you guys a pass.

And by "you guys," I mean all you baseball prognosticators who annually say "hey, look out for the Blue Jays to be contenders in the American League East this year."

You hear and read that every year, right? And then every season, Toronto is nowhere to be found, unless you take a peep near the basement of the AL East.

The "we-rarely-live-up-to-expectations" Jays have finished fourth in the division each of the past five years and have placed higher than third only once (second in 2006) since 1994.

I considered writing a post just after the regular season ended, begging all you Nostradamuses out there to lay off the Blue Jays this season.

But now… well, now if you’re picking the Blue Jays to be competitive there's nothing I can complain after they traded Wednesday for nearly every good player on the entire Miami Marlins roster.

In case you missed it, the Jays acquired short stop Jose Reyes, right handed pitcher Josh Johnson, lefty Mark Buehrle, infielder Emilo Bonifacio (love that surname) and catcher John Buck. Speaking of bucks (as in dollars), the Marlins also threw 4 million of those across the Canadian border.

So, who's leaving Toronto for Miami? Taking their talents to South Beach, if you will. That would be short stop Yunel Escobar, righty pitcher Henderson Alavarez, short stop Adeiny Hechvarria, left handed pitcher Justin Nicolin and a few other guys you've probably never heard of.

I'm not saying this trade makes the Blue Jays instant contenders. How would I know?

I'm just saying if you're one of those guys who annoys me by perennially picking the Jays to hang with the Yankees and Red Sox – and let's not leave out the Orioles – in the AL East, I'm ok with that.  

This year.