The Blue Jays have returned 25-year old righty reliever Zech Zinicola to the Nationals. Zinicola was a Rule 5 Draft Pick over the winter but the Blue Jays are so loaded in the bullpen that they knew he wasn’t going to make it. The Blue Jays due lost $25,000 bucks on the deal but it never hurts to take a look at a player in the Rule 5 Draft. After all, that’s where the Jays found Kelly Gruber.

Any talk of Jose Bautista starting in RF while Travis Snider starts in LF is foolish talk. Quite simply, the Blue Jays can’t afford to do that because the offense would suffer. You can’t have Alex Gonzalez, Jose Bautista and John Buck all getting regular at bats if you want the Blue Jays to score runs in 2010. 22-year old lefty swinging Travis Snider should start in RF for the Blue Jays all year in 2010 sink or swim. Snider played in 77 games for the Blue Jays in 2009 and he was 58 of 241 (.241 avg, .748 OPS) with 34 runs scored, 9 homers and 29 RBIs. He did have problems making contact as he had 78 whiffs but that is the price you have to pay if you want Snider’s power. Snider also played in 48 games in AAA-ball last season in which he was 59 of 175 (.337 avg, 1.094 OPS) with 32 runs scored, 14 homers and 40 RBIs. Snider will need to improve his defense in RF as he made 3 errors there last season while showing below average range. Snider also didn’t have any assists in RF last season as runners challenged him quite a bit last season.

29-year old righty swinging Jose Bautista is going to battle for the RF job in 2010 for the Blue Jays this spring but they should keep him coming off the bench. Bautista played in 113 games for the Blue Jays last season in which he was 79 of 336 (.235 avg, .757 OPS) with 54 runs scored, 13 homers, 40 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Bautista didn’t make any errors in 36 games in RF last season for the Blue Jays in which he showed good range. He also had 3 assists in RF last season showing off a good throwing arm.

28-year old lefty swinging Jeremy Reed could also get some P.T. in RF as a defensive replacement. Reed played in 8 error-free games last season in RF while showing slightly below average range.

PROJECTED GRADE IN RF IN 2010: C

The Blue Jays need 31-year old righty swinging Vernon Wells to bounce back in 2010. Wells played in 158 games for the Blue Jays last season in which he was 164 of 630 (.260 avg, .711 OPS) with 84 runs scored, 15 homers, 66 RBIs and 17 stolen bases. He has a career batting average of .280 with a .799 OPS in 1,236 major league games so the Blue Jays know that he’s a lot better than he showed in 2009. Wells only made 1 error in 155 games in CF last season while showing below average range. Wells had 6 assists while in CF last season as he still has a strong throwing arm.

28-year old lefty swinging Jeremy Reed will likely make the team as a backup outfielder in 2010. Reed played in 126 games for the Mets last season in which he was 39 of 161 (.242 avg, .605 OPS) with 9 runs scored and 9 RBIs. Reed played in 12 error-free games in CF last season while showing outstanding range.

28-year old lefty swinging Joey Gathright will try to beat out Jeremy Reed for a bench spot in 2010 this spring. Gathright played in 37 games last season for the Red Sox & Cubs in which he was 8 for 30 (.267 avg, .579 OPS) with 9 runs scored and 2 stolen bases. He also played in 83 games in AAA-ball last season in which he was 108 of 332 (.325 avg, .752 OPS) with 50 runs scored, 0 homers, 20 RBIs and 24 stolen bases. Gathright played in 15 error-free games in CF last season while showing below average range. It will be interesting to see if the Blue Jays decide to go with speed (Gathright) or defense (Reed) off the bench in 2010.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CF IN 2010: B

There has been talk about having 26-year old lefty swinging Adam Lind DH in 2010 but I think that it’s more likely that he will play in LF. Lind played in 151 games for the Blue Jays last season in which he was 179 of 587 (.305 avg, .932 OPS) with 93 runs scored, 35 homers and 114 RBIs. The Blue Jays are expecting another huge year out of Lind with the bat in 2010. Lind made 1 error in 55 games for the Blue Jays in LF last season while showing awful range. He didn’t show much of an arm either as he only had 1 assist there.

22-year old lefty swinging Travis Snider will likely be the starting RF for the Blue Jays in 2010. But, if Lind DHs he will likely start in LF in 2010. Snider played in 56 games in LF last season for the Blue Jays making 1 error while showing below average range.

29-year old righty swinging Jose Bautista could start in RF if Snider starts in LF in 2010. Bautista played in 42 games in RF last season for the Blue Jays making 1 error while showing below average range. Bautista had an amazing 8 assists while in LF last season showing off a big gun.

28-year old lefty swinging Jeremy Reed will likely get a lot of P.T. if he makes the team as a defensive replacement late in game in LF. Reed played in 50 error-free games for the Mets last season while showing outstanding range. He also had 1 assist in LF in 2010.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE LF IN 2010: A-

The Blue Jays have placed 30-year old righty starting pitcher Scott Richmond on the 60-day disabled list. Richmond pitched in 27 games (24 starts) for the Blue Jays last season and he was 8-11 with a 5.52 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. Richmond has pitched in 32 games (29 starts) in his two years with the Jays and he is 9-14 with a 5.27 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. The Blue Jays will take their time with Richmond as they have a lot of candidates for the starting rotation in spring training.