The Blue Jays will be looking to get some bang for their bucks in free agency. Here is the trio of free agents I would sign if running the Blue Jays:

1. Francisco Rodriguez - The Blue Jays need a closer and Francisco Rodriguez is still a really good pitcher. I think K-Rod would be a perfect fit at the back end of games for the Jays, giving the fans a reason to stay until the game is over.

2. Edwin Jackson - The Blue Jays actually had Jackson for a little bit last year, but he never pitched for them as he was traded to St. Louis as part of the huge Colby Rasmus deal. Jackson has the kind of arm and know how to pitch solid ball in the A.L. East.

3. Kelly Shoppach - The Blue Jays could use a new backup catcher with Jose Molina poised to sign with the Rays. Shoppach has a big time throwing arm and a lot of power when he makes contact with the ball.

A lot of teams need bullpen help and they are going to be calling the Blue Jays. Righties Frank Francisco, Jon Rauch, Octavio Dotel, Jason Frasor and Shawn Camp should be able to net the Jays a nice return prospect wise if they decide to move most or all of them. 3B Edwin Encarnacion and 2B Aaron Hill have disappointed with the bat for the Jays so far this year but teams in need of offense will be calling the Jays. The Blue Jays have also called the Padres about closer Heath Bell lately. Despite having a nice set of veteran relievers, the Jays don’t have any one of them they can count on in the 9th inning. The Red Sox, Yankees, Tigers, Twins, Rangers, Angels, Phillies, Braves, Pirates and Diamondbacks are contenders that all need help in the bullpen. The only way I would consider dealing any of the relievers on the team to the Yankees or Red Sox is if they overpay grossly for one of them. Aaron Hill would likely be of interest to the Cardinals, but other than that I can’t see a team that really needs him among the contenders. Encarnacion is a different story though as the White Sox, Angels, Phillies, Brewers and Pirates have a need at 3B. The Blue Jays are going to be very busy this week.

The Toronto Blue Jays kept adding relievers over the winter with the idea of having a good, deep bullpen. In the back of their minds, they had to know that if things went bad that they would cash in the trade chips for the future. With that in mind, I would call up the Tigers and offer them righty relievers Frank Francisco and Jason Frasor. In return I would ask for outfielder Casper Wells and rookie 3B Wade Gaynor. Wells would immediately bump Juan Rivera out of his starting job in LF. Then I would call up the Los Angeles Angels and offer them righty relievers Jon Rauch and Octavio Dotel along with outfielder Corey Patterson. In return I would want righty relievers Trevor Bell, Kevin Jepsen, Bobby Cassevah, rookie righty reliever Ysmail Carmona and 2B/OF Alexi Amarista. The Blue Jays would be getting younger in the bullpen while adding Wells and Amarista for the team in the field. Make no mistake, the Blue Jays are cashing in on the bullpen at the trade deadline.

If the Blue Jays fall out of contention in the next month, teams are going to be calling them a lot about relief pitching. Frank Francisco, Jason Frasor, Octavio Dotel, Jon Rauch and Shawn Camp should all be available if the Blue Jays are more than 10 games behind the A.L. East leader near the end of July. Despite the problems that the Yankees and Red Sox are having in the bullpen, I wouldn’t trade within the division unless the Blue Jays can snare a top prospect for one of the relievers. The Rangers and Angels are the teams most likely to need relief help at the trade deadline. The Rangers might be willing to dangle catcher Taylor Teagarden, 1B Chris Davis or CF Julio Borbon in a deal and the Blue Jays will be listening to them.

The Toronto Blue Jays have six free agents going into this winter and they are all pretty decent players. If I were the G.M. these are the decisions I would make with these guys:

Lyle Overbay: 33-year old lefty swinging 1B Lyle Overbay has been paid pretty well by the Blue Jays despite putting up so-so numbers. He played in 154 games for the Blue Jays last season and he was 130 of 534 (.243 avg, .762 OPS) with 75 runs scored, 20 homers and 67 RBIs. VERDICT: The free agent market is flooded with 1B better than Overbay. I would let him test the market and then offer him a take it or leave it 1-year deal worth $3 million bucks.

John Buck: 30-year old righty swinging catcher John Buck came through with a career year for the Jays on a 1-year deal. Buck played in 118 games for the Blue Jays last season and he was 115 of 409 (.281 avg, .802 OPS) with 53 runs scored, 20 homers and 66 RBIs. He is one of the better free agent catchers so he won’t be cheap. VERDICT: Unless Buck is willing to sign a 1-year deal again I would let him walk and start rookie J.P. Arencibia at catcher in 2011.

Jose Molina: 35-year old righty swinging catcher Jose Molina played in 57 games for the Jays last season and he was 41 of 167 (.246 avg, .681 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 6 homers and 12 RBIs. Molina is a great defensive catcher who works well with the pitching staff. Brandon Morrow really excelled when pitching to him. The Blue Jays hold a $1.2 million dollar club option on him. VERDICT: If the Blue Jays were smart they would pick up Molina’s option for 2011.

Scott Downs: 34-year old lefty reliever Scott Downs has turned into one of the best lefty relievers in all of baseball after coming to Toronto. He pitched in 67 games (0 starts) for the Blue Jays last season and he was 5-5 with a 2.64 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. VERDICT: I would let both Lyle Overbay and John Buck walk if it meant I would re-sign Downs because he’s that good.

Jason Frasor: 33-year old righty reliever Jason Frasor pitched in 69 games (0 starts) for the Blue Jays this year and he was 3-4 with 4 saves, a 3.68 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. VERDICT: I think some team will give him more than the Blue Jays will be willing to offer so I see him pitching for some other team in 2011.

Kevin Gregg: 32-year old righty closer Kevin Gregg made the 9th inning more exciting than it probably had to be but he usually got the job done. Gregg pitched in 63 games (0 starts) for the Blue Jays last year and he was 2-6 with 37 saves, a 3.51 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. The club has a option for 2011 valued at $4.5 million bucks. VERDICT: If I were running the Blue Jays I would pick up Gregg’s option as $4.5 million bucks is a fair price for a closer like him.