2014 Toronto Blue Jays: Rebound or regression?

After last year's headline-grabbing off-season, the Toronto Blue Jays opted for a quieter approach this winter as management did little on the heels of a disappointing 74-win season in 2013.

Baseball fans in Toronto and across Canada were thirsting for more after general manager Alex Anthopoulos's additions of starting pitchers R.A. Dickey, Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle, star shortstop Jose Reyes and outfield Melky Cabrera more than a year ago didn't pan out last season.

After Anthopoulos let the oft-injured Johnson test free agency (he signed with San Diego) and released underachieving catcher J.P. Arencibia, attention turned to free-agent starting pitchers Ervin Santana, Ubaldo Jimenez and Japanese right-hander Masahiro Tanaka.

The Jays never seemed to be seriously involved in talks with Tanaka and Jimenez, who signed on with, respectively, the New York Yankees (seven years, $155 million US) and the Baltimore Orioles (four years, $50 million).

But they were reportedly close to signing Santana until he decided, according to Anthopoulos, that pitching in the National League would be more to his liking. The Atlanta Braves pounced and struck a one-year, $14.1-million deal with the right-hander.

That left Toronto with an off-season of work that yielded catchers Dioner Navarro and Erik Kratz along with former Detroit Tigers outfielder Matt Tuiasosopo, who was claimed off waivers from Arizona on March 21.

Questions remain as the Blue Jays prepare for a season-opening four game series in Tampa Bay, starting March 31 at 4:30 p.m. ET. We try to answer some of them below.

Dustin McGowan won the final spot in the starting pitching rotation. How will he fare?

McGowan has been healthy through spring training and that's encouraging. Too bad the Blue Jays didn't have him stretch out earlier in camp because he might be a five-inning pitcher to start the season.

McGowan kept his velocity in the 92-96 mile-per-hour range in his most recent appearance, a four-inning stint in a minor league game. A pitcher whom the Blue Jays have always said possesses the "best stuff" of any of their hurlers, McGowan pitched out of the bullpen for the team in 2013 and posted a 2.45 earned-run average in 25 games. He walked 12 batters in 25 2/3 innings but struck out 26 and held opposing hitters to a .190 average.

McGowan struck out seven in as many innings in his first four appearances this spring with a 3.86 ERA and .120 opposing average, so with his arsenal there is always a chance he could make an impact this season.

From left, pitcher R.A. Dickey, right-fielder Jose Bautista and starter Brandon Morrow will need to stay healthy and be productive if the Blue Jays hope to improve upon last season's 74-88 record. (Canadian Press/CBCSports.ca)

Can Jose Bautista and Jose Reyes stay healthy for the 2014 season?

Bautista is off to a good start, hitting a robust .340 in his first 18 pre-season games and showing no ill effects from a hip injury that ended his 2013 season one month early. A wrist injury also limited him to 90 games in 2012. Bautista combined for 97 home runs the previous two seasons but hasn't reached 30 since.

Reyes missed 66 games with a severely sprained left ankle last season, his first in Toronto, but performed well when healthy with a .296 batting average and .353 on-base percentage in 93 contests. He's currently nursing a mild hamstring strain.

Melky Cabrera had a breakout season in 2011 and was on his way to another in 2012 before he was suspended 50 games for failing a performance-enhancing drug test. Will he return to his pre-PED form?

Many Blue Jays fans no doubt were thinking Cabrera was a bust after Anthopoulos signed him to a two-year, $16-million free-agent contract. After hitting .305 in 2011 and .346 in 2012, Cabrera wasn't the same at the plate last season, hitting at a .279 clip with only three home runs in 88 games.

An ankle injury cut short his season on Aug. 1 and a month later the left-fielder had a benign tumour removed from his spine. Cabrera is healthy now and hitting .429 through his first 18 exhibition games with nine doubles but zero homers. A rebound season is very possible.

Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey won a National League Cy Young Award in 2012, and many have declared Brandon Morrow as having the best "stuff" of any pitcher on the Jays' staff since he arrived in Toronto for the 2010 season. But does Toronto have a true ace?

The jury remains out on Dickey, who endured back and neck injuries last season, which he said prevented him from throwing his knuckler as hard as he wanted. Still, he managed 14 wins with a 4.21 earned-run average. The good news is Dickey is healthy this spring, and keep in mind he sported a 3.56 ERA in 2013 after the all-star break, more than a run lower than the first half (4.69,) so those are encouraging signs for an improved 2014.

Toronto might have an ace in Morrow if he could return to 25-plus starts this season, something he has done twice in four years with the Jays. The 29-year-old showed glimpses of his potential in 2012 when he won 10 of 21 starts with a 2.96 ERA and 108 strikeouts before a left rib cage strain derailed his season. In 2013, Morrow didn't pitch after May 28 due to a nerve injury in his forearm. He had a 9.00 ERA in his first three spring appearances this year.

Blue Jays shortstop Jose Reyes missed 66 games last season with a severe left ankle sprain. His hopes for a healthy 2014 have already been dashed as he's nursing a mild hamstring strain. (Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)

Can Brett Lawrie and Colby Rasmus put together breakout seasons?

With Lawrie, it's a matter of staying healthy. The Canadian missed the 2013 World Baseball Classic because of a rib strain and sprained his ankle in May. Maybe we saw the real Lawrie in the second half last season when he posted a .283 batting average, .346 on-base percentage, six home runs, 32 RBIs and seven stolen bases. Perhaps this is the season he reaches 20 homers and 15-20 steals. He's had a strong pre-season (.333 batting in his first 17 games).

Rasmus, 27, got off to a strong start last season, hitting .263 with 16 homers and 48 RBIs in his first 89 games before a bruised eye and left rib cage strain limited him to 56 at-bats in August and September combined. The left-handed hitter is over a neck problem that bothered him for 10 days at spring training so we could see a breakout in 2014 if he's able to improve his career .216 average against left-handed pitchers.

With infielder Mark DeRosa retired and speedy outfielder Rajai Davis leaving for Detroit as a free agent, who will be coming off the bench to pinch hit or pinch run late in games?

Scratch Anthony Gose, fan favourite Munenori Kawasaki and fellow infielder Chris Getz from the list for now as they're bound for triple-A Buffalo. It isn't a stretch to say this is the Jays' weakness. Moises Sierra has reportedly beat out Matt Tuiasosopo for the fourth outfielder's job and is coming off a 2013 season in which he hit .290 with a .369 on-base percentage with one home run in 107 at-bats for the Blue Jays. Then there's infielder Maicer Izturis, who offers a little speed and could hit .270 if he played full time. Josh Thole, who is R.A. Dickey's personal catcher, also seems destined for a reserve role. He hit .175 in 120 at-bats for Toronto last season.

Second base was a black hole for Toronto last season with Maicer Izturis and Emilio Bonifacio manning the spot. Catcher wasn't much better with J.P. Arencibia (now with Texas) hitting .194 in 138 games. Are the Blue Jays any better with Ryan Goins playing full-time at second base and Dioner Navarro behind the plate?

In a word, yes. The Jays' starters, especially ground-ball pitcher Mark Buehrle, will be thrilled when Goins scoops up balls that Izturis and Bonafacio missed early in the 2013 season. The 26-year-old's defensive play will be more important than any concerns about his potential struggles at the plate. A repeat of his .252 batting average for Toronto in 2013 will suffice.

Navarro is a good contact hitter with some pop, as evidenced by his .300 average and 13 home runs in 240 at-bats for the Chicago Cubs last season. Don't expect the 20-homer seasons that Arencibia produced, but Navarro, a career .282 hitter, won't bat below .200 either. The big question is durability, as he's played at least 120 games at the major league level just once in nine seasons.

For the first time last season, relief pitchers Steve Delabar and Brett Cecil were named all-stars after posting earned-run averages of 1.71 and 1.94, respectively, in the first half. But they struggled afterwards, so is each a true all-star or one-hit wonder?

Cecil is probably closer to closer material than Delabar. After seeing his 2013 season cut short by elbow pain in September, Cecil has showed well in spring training, tossing 5 1/3 shutout innings through March 24 with six strikeouts and zero walks. He fanned 70 batters in 60 innings last season.

Delabar missed August with a sore shoulder that likely contributed to his unsightly 7.02 ERA after the all-star break and overall 3.82 mark. He's nowhere near that bad but expect an ERA closer to 3.20 than his first-half performance of a year ago.

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Blue Jays open season vs. Rays in Tampa Bay

The Tampa Bay Rays are launching another season with expectations of playing into October. The Toronto Blue Jays have to escape the AL East cellar before reviving talk of playoff aspirations.

The division rivals open the season Monday afternoon at Tropicana Field (4:10 p.m. ET), with David Price and R.A. Dickey taking the mound in a matchup of 2012 Cy Young Award winners.

The Rays are coming off a year in which they won 92 games and made the playoffs for the fourth time in six seasons.

The Blue Jays (74-88) would just as soon forget 2013, when they battled injuries and finished in last place after being a popular pre-season pick to contend for a championship.

Toronto failed to bolster its starting pitching this winter and returns with essentially the same lineup as a year ago, yet Dickey thinks the results will be better.

Toronto knuckleballer R.A. Dickey gets the nod on Opening Day as he looks to bounce back from a disappointing season. (J. Meric/Getty Images)

"I think the heartbeat is a lot different this year. I think, one, we're very comfortable. If I had a word to describe what [spring training] has been, it's been comfortable. Guys really know that this is a big year for us collectively," said Dickey, who was 14-13 with a 4.21 ERA last season.

"We're kind of getting a mulligan this year," the knuckleballer added. "Last year, a lot of things went wrong. This year, we're pretty much all healthy. ... We're in a much different place."

Only the Yankees, Cardinals and Phillies have earned as many post-season berths as the Rays over the past six seasons. And after hiking one of baseball's lowest payrolls above $80 million US to keep most of last year's roster intact, Tampa Bay anticipates another strong run.

Price was 10-8 with a 3.33 ERA in 2013 after winning AL Cy Young honours two years ago, but he went 9-4 with a 2.53 ERA in 18 starts following the first stint of his career on the disabled list.

The 28-year-old lefty was the subject of trade speculation much of the winter before agreeing to a one-year, $14-million contract to continue anchoring one of the AL's strongest rotations.

The Rays, often overshadowed in the AL East by the big-spending Yankees and Red Sox, don't shy away from taking about how good they believe they can be.

"To be honest with you, I thought last year we had more expectations going into the season than we do this year – only because the Red Sox won the World Series and the Yankees have made some pretty big acquisitions. So, that kind of puts us in the shadows again," third baseman Evan Longoria said.

"There are a lot of expectations from within this team," he added. "But from an overall perspective, we'll probably be picked down the ladder a little bit more this year ... which is perfectly fine with me because I think we've proven time in and time out that if you believe the right things and play the right way, then the rest will take care of itself."

Toronto pursued free agent Ervin Santana in hopes of improving its rotation, but the right-hander wound up signing with Atlanta.

Meanwhile, the Blue Jays' offence has a chance to be potent if a lineup featuring Jose Reyes, Edwin Encarnacion, Jose Bautista, Melky Cabrera and off-season acquisition Dioner Navarro can stay healthy.

Dickey, who had a solid spring, hopes to revert to the form that helped him capture the NL Cy Young Award with the Mets two years ago.

"I feel prepared," Dickey said. "I feel confident."

Besides not trading Price, the Rays re-signed first baseman James Loney, acquired free-agent closer Grant Balfour and traded for catcher Ryan Hanigan, reliever Heath Bell and utilityman Logan Forsythe.

Longoria is confident the maneuvering has made the Rays better. Still, he stops short of predicting another playoff berth.

"Even when we were the favourites, I would say maybe we are on paper," the three-time All-Star said. "We should have that underdog mentality."

The teams set their rosters Sunday, with the Rays placing injured pitchers Jeremy Hellickson and Juan Carlos Oviedo and shortstop Tim Beckham on the 15-day disabled list.

The Blue Jays put closer Casey Janssen on the DL due to a strain in his left abdominal area and lower back. Backup catcher Erik Kratz was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo.

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Blue Jays complete sweep of Mets in Montreal

A big, noisy dome packed with 50,229 Montreal Expos fans seemed to suit Toronto Blue Jays starter Brandon Morrow.

The right-hander threw 5.2 scoreless innings and Melky Cabrera hit a two-run home run to give the Blue Jays a 2-0 victory over the New York Mets on Saturday and a sweep of their two-game pre-season series at Olympic Stadium.

Four Blue Jays pitchers held New York to only two hits in a promising outing in their final exhibition game ahead of opening day next week in Tampa.

"It was a lot of fun," said Morrow. "Both games were really exciting.

"The crowd was into it the whole time. They did a good job of putting on these games. It was a tune-up start. There were things I've been working on up to this point, but I tried to put it all together today."

Members of the 1994 Montreal Expos during a ceremony prior to the game between the Toronto Blue jays and the New York Mets Saturday, March 29, 2014 in Montreal. (The Canadian Press)

Moises Sierra was on third with two out in the eighth when Cabrera pounded an offering from lefty Adam Kolarek over the left-field wall to break a scoreless tie.

Toronto (16-13 in pre-season play) had beaten the Mets 5-4 on Ricardo Nanita's ninth-inning single before 46,121 on Friday night. The Mets ended their pre-season at 14-16.

New York right-fielder Curtis Granderson was impressed with the atmosphere, especially for a pre-season game.

"It was loud," he said. "The Canadian fans came out in droves.

"It was amazing to see all the different jerseys out there. That means baseball is alive and well in Montreal. People were looking forward, and they enjoyed these two games here. It was great. It was cool to see and to get a chance to be a part of."

The games were organized mainly to show the world that Montreal wants major league baseball back. The fans' response was overwhelming, with a total of 96,350 attending the two games, mostly chanting "Let's go Expos" and "We want baseball."

It wasn't as joyous for one unidentified fan who suffered serious injuries Friday night when he fell from the outfield bleachers onto the stadium's concrete floor. Police ruled it an accident.

Morrow, who struck out eight, is looking to rebound from an injury-plagued 2013 campaign in which he went 2-3 in only 54.1 innings. The year before, he was a 10-game winner with a 2.96 earned-run average.

"I've got a bit of a chip on my shoulder as far as that goes," said Morrow. "You don't want to be labelled as somebody injury-prone. My goal is to make every start this year. I had a positive spring, so I'm feeling good about it."

Aaron Loup and Steve Delabar each got a pair of outs before Aaron Sanchez closed the game out with two solid innings. Sanchez is slated to be returned to the minors, but loved the experience of doing well in a packed house.

"It was crazy," said Sanchez. "This is everything I've worked for. It gives you a little taste of it and it makes you want to come back."

Manager John Gibbons is hoping his club can answer its critics with a strong season after a disappointing 2013.

"We think we're ready,"he said. "The guys showed up with a little different focus because of what happened last year. But last year we were getting tugged in every which direction. The media coverage was out of control. We had so many new players and everybody wanted a piece of them. Then we had the (World Baseball Classic) and that was a bit of a distraction.

"This team was put together to win something and we didn't do that last year, but we all have confidence in this ball club."

The Mets' Daisuke Matsusaka didn't allow a run in five innings, also striking out eight but conceding five hits.

The event was organized by concert promoter Evenko and the Montreal Baseball Project, headed by former Expos outfielder Warren Cromartie.

John McHale Jr., an MLB vice-president whose father was the Expos' original president, was impressed with the turnout. Montreal saw its team move to Washington in 2004 largely due to lack of fans.

"This market had likely lost the intense enthusiasm it once had for major league baseball, so I think this requires us to recalibrate our estimation of how popular our sport might be," said McHale Jr., who added he had met with Cromartie.

"They're in an unpredictable process with no certainty of success," he said.

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Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw placed on 15-day DL

Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday for the first time in his seven-year career because of a swollen muscle in his left upper back.

The 26-year-old left-hander, coming off his second Cy Young Award in three years, already had been scratched from his scheduled start in San Diego on Sunday after an MRI revealed the problem.

"I'm not going to get into specifics," Kershaw told reporters. "I can't pitch right now. It's frustrating. I've been hurt before where I knew when I'd be able to pitch. I'm getting better right now, just not fast enough. You don't feel like you're a part of the team when you're hurt. It's not a good feeling."

Kershaw was on a throwing program and was tossing the ball at different distances Saturday before the team's Freeway Series finale against the Angels when he experienced some discomfort on his 27th throw.

"He felt it, and that was the last straw," manager Don Mattingly said. "So at that point, we knew we couldn't have gone any farther and that it was a DL situation. It's a situation — not just for me, but for everyone — that we've got to save Clayton from Clayton at this point and be cautious. We can't allow him to try to keep pushing and go forward. If it was up to him, I'm sure he'd want to go farther. But we can't allow him to do that right now."

Kershaw, who signed a $215 million, seven-year contract on Jan. 15, won the Dodgers' season opener 3-1 against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Australia last weekend. He is eligible to come off the DL on April 7.

The three-time All-Star was hoping to get back in the rotation for Friday's home opener against San Francisco, but instead it will be Hyun-Jin Ryu, who also will get the assignment Sunday in San Diego against Andrew Cashner. Ryu started and won the second game of the Australia trip, but tore a toenail while running the bases that day and wasn't sure he'd be able to fill in for Kershaw until after his side session Friday.

"I think that once Clayton felt something, he knew that he wasn't going to make his start on Friday," Mattingly said. "With his throwing progression, the fact that he stopped right away is all we've asked of him from the beginning: 'If you feel it at all, you've got to stop.' And he stopped right away."

Kershaw has made 33 starts, struck out at least 229 batters and logged 227 2-3 innings or more in each of the last three seasons — including a career-high 236 innings last year, when he finished 16-9 with an NL-best 232 strikeouts and a 1.83 ERA.

Kershaw led the majors in ERA for the third straight year, becoming the first pitcher to accomplish that feat since newly elected Hall of Famer Greg Maddux did it from 1993-95.

Mattingly wouldn't make any predictions about when Kershaw will return to the rotation. The Dodgers have five off days scheduled between now and April 15.

"This is not something that we say, 'OK, we think he'll be ready by this date' — and if he doesn't get there, then it's like, 'Oh, Clayton's had a setback,"' Mattingly said. "We should just let it do what it's supposed to do and let the medical staff do their work let them tell us what he could do.

"And because of all the days off we have and the schedule we have, it's really not worth pushing him."

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MLB, union increase penalty for drug violations

Baseball players suspended during the season for a performance-enhancing drug violation will not be eligible for that year's post-season under changes to the sport's drug agreement announced Friday.

In the most significant toughening to the drug rules in eight years, Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association said the penalty will increase from 50 games to 80 for a first testing violation and from 100 games to a season-long 162 for a second. A third violation remains a lifetime ban.

Baseball started testing with penalties in 2004, established a 10-day suspension for a first testing violation in 2005 and increased the discipline to 50 games in 2006.

While there were two-to-four major league suspensions annually from 2008-11, the number increased to12 in 2012 and 14 players were penalized following last year's investigation of the Biogenesis of American anti-aging clinic. Among them were All-Stars Jhonny Peralta and Nelson Cruz, former NL MVP Ryan Braun and three-time AL MVP Alex Rodriguez, who is suspended for the entire 2014 season.

"Our hope here is that the adjustments that we've made do inevitably get that number to zero," said new union head Tony Clark, a former All-Star himself. "In the event that that doesn't happen, for whatever reason, we'll reevaluate and move forward from there. But as I sit here, I am hopeful that players make the right decisions that are best for them, for their careers and for the integrity of the game."

Peralta and Cruz returned from their suspensions in time to participate in the playoffs, which angered some of their colleagues. Clark said the union membership wanted to make sure "a player is not coming back and affecting a change in the post-season as a result of the decision that particular player made earlier in the year."

In addition to the post-season ban, players who serve PED suspension will not be eligible for automatic post-season money shares but may be given cash awards at the discretion of their teammates.

A player serving a season-long suspension will lose all his pay. Under the previous rules, Rodriguez gets 21-183rds of his salary this year, or $2,868,852.

"Although we had the strongest program in professional sports before these changes, I am committed to constantly finding ways to improve the program in order to eradicate performance-enhancing drugs from the game," baseball Commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement.

An arbitrator would be allowed to reduce a suspension for a first or second testing violation by up to 50 per cent if a player proves by "clear and convincing evidence" that a positive test was not caused by his "significant fault or negligence." However, penalties may not be cut for muscle-building substances such as testosterone, human growth hormone, Boldenone, Nandrolone and Stanozolol.

In-season random urine tests will increase from 1,400 to 3,200 overall in addition to the minimum two for each player, and off-season tests will rise from 250 to 350.

There will be 400 random blood collections used to detect human growth hormone in addition to the mandatory one for each player during spring training.

Players with PED violations, other than those who penalties are reduced for mitigation, will receive six additional random urine tests and three more blood tests annually for the rest of their careers. Foreign players entering the major leagues and those not subject to the major- or minor-league testing program for at least a year will be required to take urine and blood tests before signing contracts.

"There are certain considerations we need to make in an effort to put guys in a position where the guys who are doing it correctly aren't being adversely affected any more than necessary," Clark said.

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Gary Carter honoured at Big O as Jays top Mets in Montreal

The throng of 46,121 at Olympic Stadium were rooting more for the defunct Montreal Expos, but they stood and cheered the Toronto Blue Jays just the same.

Pinch hitter Ricardo Nanita singled with two out in the ninth to lift the Blue Jays to a 5-4 victory over the New York Mets on a Friday night that was part exhibition baseball, part tribute to former Expos and Mets catcher Gary Carter and part appeal to the world to bring baseball back to Montreal.

It was the first game at the Big O since the Expos' farewell game on Sept. 24, 2004, before they moved to Washington, D.C. to become the Nationals.

The teams will play again on Saturday afternoon, when the Expos' 1994 team will be feted.

Carter's widow Sandy and daughter Kimmy were on hand with his ex-teammates Tim Raines, Steve Rogers and Warren Cromartie for a pre-game tribute to perhaps the most popular player in Expos history. He also played for and won a World Series in 1986 with the Mets.

Fan gravely injured in Olympic Stadium fall

Police say a man is fighting for his life after falling from the stands at Montreal`s Olympic Stadium during a preseason baseball game Friday night.

Police spokesman Danny Richer says the approximately 40 year old victim fell 10 to 15 metres to the ground behind the perimeter fence at centre field.

Richer said it happened around 10:20 in the evening, toward the end of the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 win over the New York Mets.

The man, whose identity hasn`t been released, was rushed to hospital in critical condition with injuries Richer described as life-threatening.

CTV news spoke to a witness who said the man was trying to rouse the crowd to do the wave when he got up on a railing, lost his balance and fell.

Police have been interviewing witnesses as they continue their investigation, but have yet to release any details.

A crowd of 46,121 attended the game, which organizers hoped would spur interest in bringing major league baseball back to Montreal. A second game is scheduled for Saturday afternoon.

— The Canadian Press

"The city always embraced Gary, and us as a family" Sandy Carter said afterwards. "I really felt that tonight. We made it our home and felt privileged to be here for 11 years."

Carter died of brain cancer at age 57 in 2010. The City of Montreal named a street after him outside the Expos' original home, Jarry Park.

"He was a great teammate, a great player, a great competitor," said Raines, a roving outfield instructor for the Blue Jays. "Him and Andre Dawson taught me the meaning of playing the game.

"If I didn't listen to him, Andre Dawson would slap me upside the head."

Many other former players and management personnel were on hand to see the Blue Jays come back from a 4-2 deficit to tie the game in the seventh and win it in the ninth.

Fans chanted Let's Go Expos throughout most of the game, but all were on their feet for the final inning trying to will the Blue Jays to victory.

Munenori Kawasaki opened the ninth with a double and scored from third as Nanita singled up the middle. Jeremy Jeffress pitched the final two innings for the win.

Met's third baseman David Wright, a rookie in 2004, called it a fun night.

"It brought back a bunch of memories for me," said Wright. "My first road trip in the big leagues was to Montreal, my first home run was in Montreal, so it was nice today to reminisce as bit.

"It's nice for us to be able to come up here and break up spring training a bit, because it gets a little boring down there (in Florida). To come up to a great city with an obviously hungry fan base — it's kind of like a dress rehearsal for us. You've got the big crowd, you get a little more excited than at a normal spring training game.

"It's good practice for Monday (the Mets' season opener against the Nationals)."

The Mets scored two in the fourth off Jays starter Mark Buehrle on Chris Young's two-run double.

Toronto got one back in the fourth on Jose Bautista's home run, but Ruben Tejada doubled and scored on Daniel Murphy's two-bagger off Casey Janssen in the fifth.

Former Blue Jays prospect Travis d'Arnaud led off the seventh with a home run, but Edwin Encarnacion tied it with a two-run single in the seventh off Gonzalez Germen. Encarnacion was tagged out in a rundown after the runners scored.

Cromartie leads a movement called the Montreal Baseball Project that is working to get a team back in Montreal, even though estimates are that it would cost more than $1 billion for a team and a new ballpark.

The Expos, who became Canada's first major league team in 1969, moved to Washington to become the Nationals in 2004 after a decade of fire sales of top players, dwindling attendance and timid ownership.

Cromartie and others are trying to revive baseball interest. They called on Montreal fans to turn out in large numbers to the pre-season games to show that the city will support baseball.

"If people think there are no fans here — you see tonight, the support is here," said Raines.

"I think it would be good," said Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie, a native of Langley, B.C. "If the fans show up — that would be the telling tale. You need that support. But it would be good for Canada."

The Mets are old Expos rivals, but the crowd was behind the Jays from the start.

There was a big ovation for a diving defensive play by Lawrie in the third and another an inning later for Bautista's homer.

But in the stands, there were periodic chants of Let's Go Expos, just like in the old days.

The Blue Jays open the season on Tuesday in Tampa Bay, so the trip north from Florida spring training actually took them out of their way. But no one complained of playing in front of huge, supportive crowd.

"To be honest, I'd rather stay in Florida, but it's good for Canada," said Lawrie. "We can suck it up. It's good energy."

Buehrle gave up two earned runs and four hits in four innings.

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Miguel Cabrera, Tigers agree to record extension: report

The Detroit Tigers are doubling down on Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera.

The team has agreed to pay Cabrera a baseball-record $292 million over the next 10 years, according to a person with knowledge of the deal.

The person, who said the contract is subject to a physical, spoke Thursday night to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been announced.

Cabrera is due $44 million over the final two years of his $152.3 million, eight-year contract that runs through 2015, and the person says the slugger will make $248 million over eight seasons in the new deal.

Depending on whether Cabrera's deal is structured as one 10-year contract or an eight-year deal starting in 2016, it will either surpass Alex Rodriguez's $275 million, 10-year agreement with the New York Yankees for the richest contract, or Clayton Kershaw's record for average annual value of $30,714,286 in the $215 million, seven-year deal he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in January.

The Tigers and their owner Mike Ilitch, who desperately wants to win a World Series, will close spring training showing their fans they are willing to pay what it takes to keep great players in today's market.

The franchise offered right-hander Max Scherzer $144 million over six years recently, but the AL Cy Young Award winner turned it down, likely setting himself up to become a free agent after the season. Detroit dealt Prince Fielder and his $214 million contract in November to Texas — less than two years after giving it to him — for second baseman Ian Kinsler, sending $30 million to the Rangers as part of the swap.

Clearly, the Tigers want Cabrera to end his career in the Motor City.

Defending 2-time AL MVP

Cabrera, who turns 31 next month, has been voted AL MVP in each of the last two seasons. He is the first player to win the award in consecutive seasons since Frank Thomas did it two decades ago.

The Venezuelan slugger won the Triple Crown in 2012 — becoming the first player to lead either league in batting average, homers and RBIs since 1967, when Boston's Carl Yastrzemski pulled off the rare feat.

Cabrera followed up that startling accomplishment with another strong season at the plate despite struggling to stay healthy. He led the majors with a .348 batting average last year, and his 44 homers and 137 RBIs were both second to Baltimore's Chris Davis.

Cabrera was limited to 148 games last season — after playing 161 in each of the previous two years — because of a sore back and left hip flexor, a strained lower abdomen, shin trouble and a groin tear that led to an off-season surgery.

The eight-time All-Star has appeared to be healthy during spring training.

Injuries seem to be the only thing that can stop Cabrera.

Outstanding numbers

He has a .321 batting average over 11 seasons — six in Detroit, five with the Florida Marlins — to go with 365 homers and 1,260 RBIs.

"He's got an unbelievable stroke," Hall of Famer Al Kaline, who works in the Tigers' front office, once said. "It's so effortless the way he gets through the zone so easily."

The Tigers have won three straight AL Central titles in part because Cabrera has led the league with batting averages of .348, .330 and .344. He has led the league in homers and RBIs twice.

As a 20-year-old rookie in 2003, Cabrera helped the Marlins win the World Series. The cash-strapped franchise traded him to Detroit in an eight-player deal after the 2007 season because it couldn't afford to pay him $20-plus million over the following two seasons, or even more when he was to become a free agent after the 2009 season.

Detroit kept Cabrera off the free-agent market once before, when they gave him that $152.3 million deal in 2008.

The Tigers have moved Cabrera back to first base to replace Fielder after he played third base the previous two seasons. Former manager Jim Leyland has said Cabrera is talented enough to become a complete player.

"Hopefully someday when he goes to Cooperstown, people won't just say he was one hell of a hitter," Leyland once said.

The Tigers appear to be confident that Cabrera's off-the-field problems are behind him.

Cabrera pleaded no contest to drunken driving after being arrested in February 2011 in Florida. Charges of resisting an officer without violence and having an open container in a vehicle were dropped.

Near the end of the 2009 season, when Detroit was trying to win its first division title in more than two decades, Cabrera got into a fight with his wife that became public knowledge. He had a bruised and cut face along with a 0.26 blood-alcohol reading the following morning when Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski picked him up at a police station.

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Expos fans flock to Montreal Big O for baseball's return

Major League Baseball is back in Montreal — well, for the next two days, anyway.

Gary Carter spent most of his 21-year baseball career in Montreal with the Expos and with the New York Mets.

Montreal will welcome the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Mets for two games, Friday evening and Saturday afternoon.

The pre-season games will once again turn the Olympic Stadium, or Big O, into the baseball field it once was — if only for 48 hours.

The Montreal Expos stopped playing 10 years ago, in 2004, when the team was moved to Washington, D.C.

The promoter, Evenko, hopes it's the start of a new annual tradition. The games are nearly sold out.

Mayor Denis Coderre will throw the first pitch at tonight's game, which will also honour the late, great Expo Gary Carter.

CBC Montreal's Andie Bennett took a tour of the facilities earlier this week to see how things were shaping up in preparation for the big game. Watch the video above for an insider's view of the set-up.

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Blue Jays' Drew Hutchison, McGowan win rotation spots

Drew Hutchison and Dustin McGowan have won spots in the Toronto Blue Jays rotation.

Manager John Gibbons announced the news before Wednesday's game against the New York Yankees.

Hutchison will pitch in the Blue Jays' second regular-season game Tuesday at Tampa Bay. McGowan beat out several other fifth starter contenders and is lined up to pitch the home opener with the Yankees on April 4.

McGowan has pitched in just 30 big league games, including 25 relief appearances last season, since right shoulder surgery in July 2008.

"He was one of the top up-and-coming pitchers here in this organization a few years ago," Gibbons said. "It's pretty amazing in my mind that he's come back this far. We're going to run with it and see where it takes us."

McGowan will pitch in a simulated game Sunday, the final step in what he even thought was a long-shot bid to open the year as a starter.

"Excited," McGowan said. "I always had the resolve. There's no quit in my blood. I worked hard to get back. It paid off."

R.A. Dickey will be Monday's opening day starter against the Rays. After Hutchison, Mark Buehrle and Brandon Morrow will start the final two games of the four-game series with Tampa Bay.

Left-hander J.A. Happ, who was in the mix for the final rotation spot, will start the season on the disabled list with back tightness.

Gibbons said other starting candidates, Todd Redmond, Esmil Rogers and Jeremy Jeffress, will work out of the bullpen.

Also, Josh Thole beat out Erik Kratz for the backup catcher role. Thole will catch Dickey, who throws the knuckleball.

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2014 Toronto Blue Jays: Rebound or regression?

After last year's headline-grabbing off-season, the Toronto Blue Jays opted for a quieter approach this winter as management did little on the heels of a disappointing 74-win season in 2013.

Baseball fans in Toronto and across Canada were thirsting for more after general manager Alex Anthopoulos's additions of starting pitchers R.A. Dickey, Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle, star shortstop Jose Reyes and outfield Melky Cabrera more than a year ago didn't pan out last season.

After Anthopoulos let the oft-injured Johnson test free agency (he signed with San Diego) and released underachieving catcher J.P. Arencibia, attention turned to free-agent starting pitchers Ervin Santana, Ubaldo Jimenez and Japanese right-hander Masahiro Tanaka.

The Jays never seemed to be seriously involved in talks with Tanaka and Jimenez, who signed on with, respectively, the New York Yankees (seven years, $155 million US) and the Baltimore Orioles (four years, $50 million).

But they were reportedly close to signing Santana until he decided, according to Anthopoulos, that pitching in the National League would be more to his liking. The Atlanta Braves pounced and struck a one-year, $14.1-million deal with the right-hander.

That left Toronto with an off-season of work that yielded catchers Dioner Navarro and Erik Kratz along with former Detroit Tigers outfielder Matt Tuiasosopo, who was claimed off waivers from Arizona on March 21.

Questions remain as the Blue Jays prepare for a season-opening four game series in Tampa Bay, starting March 31 at 4:30 p.m. ET. We try to answer some of them below.

Dustin McGowan won the final spot in the starting pitching rotation. How will he fare?

McGowan has been healthy through spring training and that's encouraging. Too bad the Blue Jays didn't have him stretch out earlier in camp because he might be a five-inning pitcher to start the season.

McGowan kept his velocity in the 92-96 mile-per-hour range in his most recent appearance, a four-inning stint in a minor league game. A pitcher whom the Blue Jays have always said possesses the "best stuff" of any of their hurlers, McGowan pitched out of the bullpen for the team in 2013 and posted a 2.45 earned-run average in 25 games. He walked 12 batters in 25 2/3 innings but struck out 26 and held opposing hitters to a .190 average.

McGowan struck out seven in as many innings in his first four appearances this spring with a 3.86 ERA and .120 opposing average, so with his arsenal there is always a chance he could make an impact this season.

Blue Jays shortstop Jose Reyes missed 66 games last season with a severe left ankle sprain. His hopes for a healthy 2014 have already been dashed as he's nursing a mild hamstring strain. (Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)

Can Jose Bautista and Jose Reyes stay healthy for the 2014 season?

Bautista is off to a good start, hitting a robust .340 in his first 18 pre-season games and showing no ill effects from a hip injury that ended his 2013 season one month early. A wrist injury also limited him to 90 games in 2012. Bautista combined for 97 home runs the previous two seasons but hasn't reached 30 since.

Reyes missed 66 games with a severely sprained left ankle last season, his first in Toronto, but performed well when healthy with a .296 batting average and .353 on-base percentage in 93 contests. He's currently nursing a mild hamstring strain.

Melky Cabrera had a breakout season in 2011 and was on his way to another in 2012 before he was suspended 50 games for failing a performance-enhancing drug test. Will he return to his pre-PED form?

Many Blue Jays fans no doubt were thinking Cabrera was a bust after Anthopoulos signed him to a two-year, $16-million free-agent contract. After hitting .305 in 2011 and .346 in 2012, Cabrera wasn't the same at the plate last season, hitting at a .279 clip with only three home runs in 88 games.

An ankle injury cut short his season on Aug. 1 and a month later the left-fielder had a benign tumour removed from his spine. Cabrera is healthy now and hitting .429 through his first 18 exhibition games with nine doubles but zero homers. A rebound season is very possible.

Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey won a National League Cy Young Award in 2012, and many have declared Brandon Morrow as having the best "stuff" of any pitcher on the Jays' staff since he arrived in Toronto for the 2010 season. But does Toronto have a true ace?

The jury remains out on Dickey, who endured back and neck injuries last season, which he said prevented him from throwing his knuckler as hard as he wanted. Still, he managed 14 wins with a 4.21 earned-run average. The good news is Dickey is healthy this spring, and keep in mind he sported a 3.56 ERA in 2013 after the all-star break, more than a run lower than the first half (4.69,) so those are encouraging signs for an improved 2014.

Toronto might have an ace in Morrow if he could return to 25-plus starts this season, something he has done twice in four years with the Jays. The 29-year-old showed glimpses of his potential in 2012 when he won 10 of 21 starts with a 2.96 ERA and 108 strikeouts before a left rib cage strain derailed his season. In 2013, Morrow didn't pitch after May 28 due to a nerve injury in his forearm. He had a 9.00 ERA in his first three spring appearances this year.

The key for Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie this season is staying healthy. Did we see the real Lawrie in the second half of 2013 when he posted a .283 batting average, six home runs, 32 RBIs and seven stolen bases? (Kathy Willens/Associated Press)

Can Brett Lawrie and Colby Rasmus put together breakout seasons?

With Lawrie, it's a matter of staying healthy. The Canadian missed the 2013 World Baseball Classic because of a rib strain and sprained his ankle in May. Maybe we saw the real Lawrie in the second half last season when he posted a .283 batting average, .346 on-base percentage, six home runs, 32 RBIs and seven stolen bases. Perhaps this is the season he reaches 20 homers and 15-20 steals. He's had a strong pre-season (.333 batting in his first 17 games).

Rasmus, 27, got off to a strong start last season, hitting .263 with 16 homers and 48 RBIs in his first 89 games before a bruised eye and left rib cage strain limited him to 56 at-bats in August and September combined. The left-handed hitter is over a neck problem that bothered him for 10 days at spring training so we could see a breakout in 2014 if he's able to improve his career .216 average against left-handed pitchers.

With infielder Mark DeRosa retired and speedy outfielder Rajai Davis leaving for Detroit as a free agent, who will be coming off the bench to pinch hit or pinch run late in games?

Scratch Anthony Gose, fan favourite Munenori Kawasaki and fellow infielder Chris Getz from the list for now as they're bound for triple-A Buffalo. It isn't a stretch to say this is the Jays' weakness. Moises Sierra has reportedly beat out Matt Tuiasosopo for the fourth outfielder's job and is coming off a 2013 season in which he hit .290 with a .369 on-base percentage with one home run in 107 at-bats for the Blue Jays. Then there's infielder Maicer Izturis, who offers a little speed and could hit .270 if he played full time. Josh Thole, who is R.A. Dickey's personal catcher, also seems destined for a reserve role. He hit .175 in 120 at-bats for Toronto last season.

Second base was a black hole for Toronto last season with Maicer Izturis and Emilio Bonifacio manning the spot. Catcher wasn't much better with J.P. Arencibia (now with Texas) hitting .194 in 138 games. Are the Blue Jays any better with Ryan Goins playing full-time at second base and Dioner Navarro behind the plate?

In a word, yes. The Jays' starters, especially ground-ball pitcher Mark Buehrle, will be thrilled when Goins scoops up balls that Izturis and Bonafacio missed early in the 2013 season. The 26-year-old's defensive play will be more important than any concerns about his potential struggles at the plate. A repeat of his .252 batting average for Toronto in 2013 will suffice.

Navarro is a good contact hitter with some pop, as evidenced by his .300 average and 13 home runs in 240 at-bats for the Chicago Cubs last season. Don't expect the 20-homer seasons that Arencibia produced, but Navarro, a career .282 hitter, won't bat below .200 either. The big question is durability, as he's played at least 120 games at the major league level just once in nine seasons.

For the first time last season, relief pitchers Steve Delabar and Brett Cecil were named all-stars after posting earned-run averages of 1.71 and 1.94, respectively, in the first half. But they struggled afterwards, so is each a true all-star or one-hit wonder?

Cecil is probably closer to closer material than Delabar. After seeing his 2013 season cut short by elbow pain in September, Cecil has showed well in spring training, tossing 5 1/3 shutout innings through March 24 with six strikeouts and zero walks. He fanned 70 batters in 60 innings last season.

Delabar missed August with a sore shoulder that likely contributed to his unsightly 7.02 ERA after the all-star break and overall 3.82 mark. He's nowhere near that bad but expect an ERA closer to 3.20 than his first-half performance of a year ago.

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MLB hopes for new drug deal this week: report

Baseball players and management hope to reach a new drug agreement this week that would increase initial penalties for muscle-building steroids and allow a decrease of suspensions for some positive tests caused by unintentional use, people familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

For future suspensions, the deal also would eliminate the loophole allowing Alex Rodriguez to earn almost $3 million US during his season-long ban, the people said. They spoke on condition of anonymity in recent days because talks are ongoing.

The sides hope to reach an agreement by Sunday, when the Los Angeles Dodgers open the U.S. portion of the major league schedule at the San Diego Padres.

While the lengths have not been finalized, a person involved with the talks said Wednesday the most likely penalties would be about 80 games for an initial testing violation and a season-long ban for a second.

"It will be a significant deterrent because players will know they're not going to just easily walk back into a lineup," Travis Tygart, chief executive officer of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, said in a telephone interview. "It probably is the best policy in professional sports."

'What we're all here for is to rid sports of the intentional cheats, those who are intending to defraud both fans and their fellow teammates, the integrity of competition.'- Travis Tygart, CEO of U.S. Anti-Doping Agency

For use of a limited group of substances, the sides were discussing giving the arbitration panel that hears appeals grievances the authority to reduce suspensions by as much as 50 per cent if the player proves the positive test was caused by unintentional use, the person said.

"What we're all here for is to rid sports of the intentional cheats, those who are intending to defraud both fans and their fellow teammates, the integrity of competition," Tygart said. "You want to have provisions in place that allow for whether there's an inadvertent or a truly non-intentional situation which may arise."

Tougher penalties?

Since the 2006 season, the Major League Baseball's drug agreement has called for a 50-game suspension for a first positive steroids test, a 100-game ban for a second and a lifetime penalty for a third. Baseball commissioner Bud Selig called for tougher penalties last March, and then-union head Michael Weiner said players would consider them for 2014.

Weiner died in November and was succeeded by former all-star Tony Clark, who has led the negotiations.

Major League Baseball's investigation of the Biogenesis of America anti-aging clinic led to 14 suspensions last summer, including a 65-game penalty for former National League MVP Ryan Braun of Milwaukee and a 211-game ban for Rodriguez, which was reduced to 162 games in January by an arbitrator.

The section covering violations not related to positive tests, which was used by Selig in the Biogenesis case, will be clarified but still will allow discipline for "just cause."

'We thought 50 games [for first-time offender] would be a deterrent. Obviously it's not. So we are working on it again.'- Diamondbacks pitcher Brad Ziegler

Many players have advocated stiffer penalties as a deterrent. Arizona pitcher Brad Ziegler spoke out after Jhonny Peralta, who served a 50-game suspension, agreed in November to a $53 million, four-year contract with St. Louis.

"We thought 50 games would be a deterrent. Obviously it's not. So we are working on it again," he tweeted then. "It pays to cheat... Thanks, owners, for encouraging PED use."

Monetary losses

Some players said suspensions should lead to larger monetary losses. San Diego Padres outfielder Will Venable maintained last summer "somehow having to forfeit or void your contract that you're under is something that needs to be the main focus of the penalties."

But for the majority of players, that would go too far.

"I'd venture to guess that even though there are concerns on a number of levels, that we will never end up in a world where player contracts are voided as a result," Clark told the AP during a January interview.

Addressing positives caused by inadvertent use was a factor in the talks.

Philadelphia infielder Freddy Galvis was suspended for 50 games in June 2012 for a Clostebol Metabolite, which he later claimed was contained in a foot cream he used. Reliever Guillermo Mota, then with San Francisco, was suspended for 100 games in May 2012 after taking a cough syrup with Clenbuterol.

The new deal also will state that a player receives none of his salary during a season-long suspension. The current deal said a player loses as many days' pay as games he is suspended. Since players are paid over a 183-day season this year, arbitrator Fredric Horowitz ruled Rodriguez was entitled to 21-183rds of his $25 million salary, or $2,868,852.

"That's fantastic," Tygart said. "You hit them in the pocketbook, and that's really where the cheaters are most deterred from attempting to steal money from the other players."

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Blue Jays' Drew Hutchison, McGowan win rotation spots

Drew Hutchison and Dustin McGowan have won spots in the Toronto Blue Jays rotation.

Manager John Gibbons announced the news before Wednesday's game against the New York Yankees.

Hutchison will pitch in the Blue Jays' second regular-season game Tuesday at Tampa Bay. McGowan beat out several other fifth starter contenders and is lined up to pitch the home opener with the Yankees on April 4.

McGowan has pitched in just 30 big league games, including 25 relief appearances last season, since right shoulder surgery in July 2008.

"He was one of the top up-and-coming pitchers here in this organization a few years ago," Gibbons said. "It's pretty amazing in my mind that he's come back this far. We're going to run with it and see where it takes us."

R.A. Dickey will be Monday's opening day starter against the Rays. After Hutchison, Mark Buehrle and Brandon Morrow will start the final two games of the four-game series with Tampa Bay.

Left-hander J.A. Happ, who was in the mix for the final rotation spot, will start the season on the disabled list with back tightness.

Gibbons said other starting candidates, Todd Redmond, Esmil Rogers and Jeremy Jeffress, will work out of the bullpen.

Also, Josh Thole beat out Erik Kratz for the backup catcher role. Thole will catch Dickey, who throws the knuckleball.

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Jose Reyes day-to-day with mild hamstring strain

MRI on Blue Jays speedster reveals injury

CBC Sports Posted: Mar 25, 2014 12:04 AM ET Last Updated: Mar 25, 2014 12:04 AM ET

Toronto Blue Jays fans can breathe a sigh of relief, as precautionary MRI results on star shortstop Jose Reyes's injured hamstring revealed a mild strain. 

The club has listed the 30-year-old native of the Dominican Republic as day-to-day, one week ahead of Toronto's season opener against the Tampa Bay Rays (4:10 p.m. ET). Both the team and Reyes had been insisting the injury wasn't severe.

Reyes, a six-foot, 195-pound switch-hitting speedster, has dealt with hamstring issues in the past and hurt himself during Saturday's game against the Detroit Tigers. 

The four-time All-Star played in just 93 games last year in his first season in Toronto with a severe ankle sprain. He joined the team in blockbuster trade with the Florida Marlins in the off-season ahead of the 2013 campaign. 

The former National League batting champion hit .296 with 10 home runs, 37 RBI and 15 steals last year.

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10 notable off-season baseball trades

Detroit Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski and Texas counterpart Jon Daniels shook up a rather quiet major league off-season on Nov. 20 with a one-for-one trade that saw power-hitting first baseman Prince Fielder dealt to the Rangers for second baseman Ian Kinsler.

Two days later, the St. Louis Cardinals sent third baseman David Freese to the Los Angeles Angels for speedy outfielder Peter Bourjos.

But it's Dec. 3 that might be remembered as one of the greatest off-season days in major league history.

No fewer than six free-agent signings and as many trades, highlighted by the Oakland Athletics' pickup of closer Jim Johnson from Baltimore, were made. The Toronto Blue Jays were involved too, sending relief pitcher Brad Lincoln to Philadelphia for pitcher Rob Rasmussen and catcher Erik Kratz.

However, the only other acquisitions worth mentioning by Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos in the off-season was the signing of free-agent catcher Dioner Navarro and the claiming of outfielder Matt Tuiasosopo.

Anthopoulos lost out on free-agent pitcher Ervin Santana and reportedly had trades for one-time A's starter Brett Anderson and Kinsler fall through.

Above, we profile 10 notable trades in baseball's off-season, including the Fielder-Kinsler swap.

Comment below on the various deals about what general manager may have been fleeced, what player(s) will thrive in a new environment and who might have sacrificed too much of the future for short-term gain.

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David Ortiz, Red Sox agree to deal

Slugger has 431 homers in his MLB career

The Associated Press Posted: Mar 23, 2014 11:42 PM ET Last Updated: Mar 23, 2014 11:47 PM ET

David Ortiz and the Red Sox have agreed to a 2015 contract with options for the following two years, a move that means the popular slugger will probably finish his career in Boston.

Ortiz, the World Series MVP last season, has helped lead the Red Sox to three championships in the past 10 years. Affectionately known as "Big Papi," he batted .309 with 30 home runs and 103 RBIs in 137 games last season.

The 38-year-old designated hitter has 431 homers during his major league career and has made nine All-Star teams in 11 years with Boston.

The Red Sox announced the deal Sunday night. It includes a club or vesting option for 2016, and a club option for 2017.

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Rays pick Jake Odorizzi as No. 5 starter over Bedard

Now that Erik Bedard has failed to win a rotation spot with the Tampa Bay Rays, where will the Canadian pitch next?

It could be at triple-A or with another major league team looking to address some injury concerns.

The Tampa Tribune spoke with Bedard's agent, Mark Pieper, and reported the left-hander from Navan, Ont., will use the opt-out clause in his minor league contract to find a starting job elsewhere in the majors.

"The opt-out is just because a lot of guys have been hurt [across the major leagues]," Bedard said. "I think probably everybody would do the same thing. If nobody gets hurt, I'd go with the flow and if I go to triple-A, I'll go to triple-A."

The Rays have yet to comment on the situation while manager Joe Maddon told reporters Bedard needs to do what is best for him and his family.

"He has our full support with all of that," Maddon said. "If it were not to happen, selfishly, we'd love to have him back."

The opt-out clause doesn't take effect until March 31, which coincides with the opening day of the regular season.

If Bedard was to leave Tampa, there wouldn't be any hard feelings as he has enjoyed his brief time with the Rays, calling the organization a "breath of fresh air."

Jake Odorizzi beat out Bedard and Cesar Ramos for the final rotation spot and will fill in for Jeremy Hellickson, who had arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow in January and has set June 1 as the target for his return.

The No. 5 job seemed to be his until the first day of spring train when Tampa signed Bedard to a one-year minor league contract.

The 35-year-old Bedard sported a 2-2 record and 6.88 earned-run average in five games this spring, including three starts. He allowed 25 hits and 13 earned runs in 17 innings while allowing opposing batters to hit .342.

Bedard acknowledged his numbers didn't look great in Friday's 5-0 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays when he yielded four runs on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings. But he said he felt good, getting his breaking balls over for strikes and his fastball reaching 92 miles per hour.

"I thought it was better than my other outings," he said.

Bedard went 4-12 with a 4.59 ERA in 32 games (26 starts) for Houston last season. He is 67-76 overall in 10 seasons with Baltimore, Seattle, Boston, Pittsburgh and the Astros.

Two years ago, Bedard went 7-14 with a career-worst 5.01 ERA in 24 starts for the Pirates.

From 2004 to 2007, he was 40-34 with the Orioles, winning 15 games in 2006. He was just as impressive the following year, when he was 13-5 with a 3.16 ERA in 28 starts.

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Blue Jays' bats come alive in win over Tigers

Edwin Encarnacion hit a three-run homer, Colby Rasmus drove in two runs and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Detroit Tigers 9-4 on Saturday.

Toronto shortstop Jose Reyes left the game after the third inning due to tightness in his left hamstring. Reyes said his exit was just a precaution and insisted that he is fine.

Two-time American League MVP Miguel Cabrera was 0 for 2 with a strikeout and an RBI for the Tigers.

Encarnacion connected off Tigers starter Kyle Lobstein in a five-run first inning, which included a solo shot to right field by Moises Sierra and an RBI double from Melky Cabrera. It was Encarnacion's third home run of the spring.

Encarnacion finished 2 for 4 with a double and three RBIs.

Tigers outfield prospect Ezequiel Carrera homered and Tyler Collins hit a two-run double against Blue Jays starter Todd Redmond in the sixth inning.

Redmond, a candidate for the fifth spot in the Blue Jaysa' rotation, allowed five hits, walked one and struck out eight in six innings.

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Max Scherzer, Tigers suspend contract talks

2 sides failed to reach agreement, will not negotiate until after season

The Associated Press Posted: Mar 23, 2014 10:28 AM ET Last Updated: Mar 23, 2014 10:28 AM ET

Max Scherzer and the Detroit Tigers failed to reach agreement on a long-term contract and will not negotiate again until after the season.

The Tigers say in a statement that Scherzer rejected their most recent offer. The 2013 Cy Young Award winner struck out 240 batters in 214 1-3 innings last season, and went 21-3 with a 2.90 ERA.

Scherzer, who will make $15.53 million this season, has said he does not want to discuss contract matters during the season.

The Tigers have two other starters tied up in long-term deals, including 2011 Cy Young and AL MVP winner Justin Verlander, who is set to make $28 million per yet through 2019. Anibal Sanchez has a deal set to pay him $16.8 million a year through 2017.

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2014 MLB season: American League

A year ago, the Toronto Blue Jays were the talk of baseball. Many fans and so-called experts were projecting a World Series appearance, thanks to a bolstered roster, highlighted by the off-season additions of pitchers Josh Johnson, R.A. Dickey and Mark Buehrle, shortstop Jose Reyes and outfielder Melky Cabrera.

But things started to fall apart when they had to play the games. Injuries derailed the seasons of Johnson, Dickey, Reyes, Cabrera, slugger Jose Bautista and third baseman Brett Lawrie.

So, what now? Well, the Blue Jays' front office, manager John Gibbons, the players and fans can hope the aforementioned players, save for the departed Johnson (now with San Diego), have a healthy 2014, help the team make everyone forget last season's 74-88 record and contend for a playoff spot.

Could they even rise from last place and win the American League East Division? Hey, the Boston Red Sox did, following up a 69-win season in 2012 under manager Bobby Valentine with 97 wins, a division title and World Series championship playing for ex-Blue Jays skipper John Farrell.

"It does provide you with a fair amount of hope," White Sox general manager Rick Hahn told MLB.com last November, speaking in general terms and not about Toronto. "[The Red Sox] did it on the strength of good pitching and some shrewd moves along the way by the front office and the on-field management, John Farrell and his staff. And a little bit of luck sprinkled in along the way."

Will that luck spread to the oft-injured Brandon Morrow, unproven Drew Hutchison and whoever the Jays' final starter is along with Dickey and Buehrle? We'll know by September, and probably sooner.

Which teams will reign supreme across the American League in 2014? Which of the AL's other 14 clubs are poised to take the next step or falter this season?

It's all here as we project the AL division winners along with three teams on the rise and decline. Here's the National League preview.

Division winners

East: Boston — We're picking the Red Sox to repeat as division champions, only this time they will fall shy of matching their 97-win season of a year ago, but still fend off Tampa Bay. Boston says bye to outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury (now with the division rival Yankees) but returns the nucleus of a roster that won the East by five-and-a-half games over the Rays.

Veteran A.J. Pierzynski replaces Jarrod Saltalamacchia at the catcher position, and highly touted Xander Bogaerts is the full-time shortstop in a lineup that scored more runs than any other team last year. Led by Jon Lester, the starting five pitchers return, along with 38-year-old closer Koji Uehara, who converted 21 of 24 save chances but will be hard-pressed to repeat his 1.09 earned-run average.

Former Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler is now in Detroit, where he will try to help the Tigers to a fourth straight AL Central title. (Carlos Osorio/Associated Press)

Central: Detroit — Coming of a third consecutive division title, the Tigers might run their way to a fourth. Unlike former manager Jim Leyland, expect rookie skipper Brad Ausmus to have Detroit burning up the basepaths, with Rajai Davis, Austin Jackson and perhaps newcomer Ian Kinsler leading the way.

Kinsler was acquired from Texas in a trade that sent Prince Fielder to the Rangers, while rookie Nick Castellanos takes over at third base. Ausmus will be hoping ace pitcher Justin Verlander can return to his 2012 form after a disappointing 2013 campaign and off-season core muscle surgery to lead a strong pitching staff. Detroit also brought in reliever Joba Chamberlain and veteran closer Joe Nathan after the bullpen ranked 24th in the majors in ERA last season and tied for 21st with 39 saves.

West: Texas — This pick might raise some eyebrows, given the Rangers' questions with their starting pitching. But Oakland, which could push Texas for top spot, also has pitching concerns of their own with Jarrod Parker to miss the season following Tommy John surgery.

The Texas lineup features on-base machine Shin-Soo Choo and the speedy Elvis Andrus at the top and up-and-coming second baseman Jurickson Profar and fleet-footed Leonys Martin at the bottom. In the middle is a powerful 3-4-5 of Prince Fielder, Adrian Beltre and Alex Rios. Yu Darvish leads a pitching staff that is minus regulars Derek Holland and Matt Harrison to start the season, while Colby Lewis returns from an injury marred 2013. Neftali Feliz is the expected closer, but will he return to pre-injury form?

On the rise

Chicago White Sox — The White Sox may not post 85 wins as they did in 2012, but we're confident they'll improve upon last season's 63-99 mark after general Rick Hahn made two significant additions in Cuban first baseman Jose Abreu and outfielder Adam Eaton. Abreu signed a six-year, $68-million US deal in the off-season and projects to hit for average and power, while Eaton, who was slowed by a sprained ligament in his left elbow last season with Arizona, should score plenty of runs and could make a run at 30 stolen bases.

Chris Sale anchors a pitching staff that includes a healthy John Danks and is filled out by up-and-comer Erik Johnson and former Kansas City flame thrower Felipe Paulino. Nate Jones is expected to take over at closer from Addison Reed, who was traded to Arizona for power-hitting third baseman Matt Davidson.

Kansas City — Coming off their first winning season since 2003, the Royals could raise their win total a little from last year's 86 if young hitters like Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas and Salvador Perez continue to improve at the plate. Setting the table for those run producers will be two newcomers in leadoff man Norichika Aoki (formerly of Milwaukee) and one-time Detroit infielder Omar Infante, a reliable contact hitter.

Starting pitcher Ervin Santana (now with Atlanta) is the only notable departure from last year's team that hit the fewest home runs in the American League with 112. There is plenty of hype about fifth starter Yordano Ventura, who reaches 102 miles per hour on the radar gun. And rock-solid closer Greg Holland fronts a bullpen that led the league in earned-run average in 2013.

Los Angeles Angels — The Angels have the talent to improve upon their 2013 record of 78-84. Health will be a big factor, specifically with slugging first baseman Albert Pujols and ace pitcher Jered Weaver. The 34-year-old Pujols, who still has 30-homer, 100-RBI potential, had his 2013 campaign end in late July due to a foot injury. Weaver, who missed the first two months of last season with an elbow injury, still managed 11 wins and a 3.27 earned-run average in 24 starts.

Management would like to see outfielder Josh Hamilton, a career .295 hitter, hit better than .250 as he did last season, and hopes the additions of third baseman David Freese and DH Raul Ibanez offset the power lost by the Mark Trumbo trade that brought pitching prospect Tyler Skaggs from Arizona. Hector Santiago is the other newcomer to a seemingly improved starting rotation.

On the decline

The Orioles signed free agent Ubaldo Jimenez to bolster their starting rotation. He posted a 3.30 ERA and 194 strikeouts last season with Cleveland but didn't have an ERA below 4.68 in each of the previous two years. (Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press)

Baltimore — We're expecting the Orioles to finish shy of the 85 wins achieved last season rather than a sharp decline in play. They added former Texas slugger Nelson Cruz to DH and starting pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez. But keep in mind that Cruz has never played a full season and is coming off a 50-game drug suspension. Jimenez posted a 3.30 ERA and 194 strikeouts last season but didn't have an ERA below 4.68 in each of the previous two years.

Beyond Chris Tillman and Jimenez, the starting rotation is a question mark, as is the closer role, where the unproven Tommy Hunter takes over from Jim Johnson. The latter, who was traded to Oakland for second baseman Jemile Weeks in the off-season, saved 50 games in each of his final two seasons in Baltimore.

Cleveland — Like in Baltimore, we don't believe a huge dropoff is in the offing, but neither is a repeat of 2013 when the Indians won 92 games. First off, there isn't a lot of experience on the pitching staff as Canadian reliever John Axford is the lone hurler in his 30s. Starters Ubaldo Jimenez and Scott Kazmir, who combined for 23 wins in 2013, left as free agents and outfielder Drew Stubbs is also gone. But 20 homers and 30 steals from second baseman Jason Kipnis, plus 30-plus starts from right-handers Danny Salazar and Corey Kluber would be something to get excited about.

So, too, is the thought of beating the defending Central Division champion Detroit Tigers, who prevailed in 15 of 19 meetings last season. Cleveland was 40-17 against the rest of the division.

Seattle — Well, at least for the first month or so we don't expect the Mariners to surge up the American League West standings. General manager Jack Zduriencik got many baseball fans in Seattle and elsewhere excited by signing free-agent second baseman Robinson Cano away from the Yankees for $240 million US over 10 years. But then No. 2 starter Hisashi Iwakuma sprained the middle finger on his pitching hand at the start of spring training and top pitching prospect Taijuan Walker followed with shoulder soreness. It could be at least the end of April before they build up sufficient arm strength, putting more pressure on ace Felix Hernandez.

The jury is out on newcomers Corey Hart and Logan Morrison, who must remain healthy if Seattle hopes to climb the standings. Injuries cost Hart the entire 2013 season and Morrison 77 contests.

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10 MLB players to watch for 2014 season

As with any major league season, many storylines emerge several months before the first pitch on opening day.

The 2014 season is no different.

For starters, Milwaukee Brewers slugger Ryan Braun will be looking for redemption after enduring a 65-game suspension last season for performance-enhancing drug use, and plenty of scorn from fans and media.

Los Angeles centre-fielder Mike Trout and Detroit Tigers Miguel Cabrera will be among the handful of American League hitters vying for the MVP award – again.  

From a heath perspective, Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Jose Reyes and Washington Nationals star outfielder Bryce Harper hope last season's injuries won't carry into 2014.

The gallery above features stars aiming to be impact players for their respective teams.

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2014 MLB season: American League

A year ago, the Toronto Blue Jays were the talk of baseball. Many fans and so-called experts were projecting a World Series appearance, thanks to a bolstered roster, highlighted by the off-season additions of pitchers Josh Johnson, R.A. Dickey and Mark Buehrle, shortstop Jose Reyes and outfielder Melky Cabrera.

But things started to fall apart when they had to play the games. Injuries derailed the seasons of Johnson, Dickey, Reyes, Cabrera, slugger Jose Bautista and third baseman Brett Lawrie.

So, what now? Well, the Blue Jays' front office, manager John Gibbons, the players and fans can hope the aforementioned players, save for the departed Johnson (now with San Diego), have a healthy 2014, help the team make everyone forget last season's 74-88 record and contend for a playoff spot.

Could they even rise from last place and win the American League East Division? Hey, the Boston Red Sox did, following up a 69-win season in 2012 under manager Bobby Valentine with 97 wins, a division title and World Series championship playing for ex-Blue Jays skipper John Farrell.

"It does provide you with a fair amount of hope," White Sox general manager Rick Hahn told MLB.com last November, speaking in general terms and not about Toronto. "[The Red Sox] did it on the strength of good pitching and some shrewd moves along the way by the front office and the on-field management, John Farrell and his staff. And a little bit of luck sprinkled in along the way."

Will that luck spread to the oft-injured Brandon Morrow, unproven Drew Hutchison and whoever the Jays' final starter is along with Dickey and Buehrle? We'll know by September, and probably sooner.

Which teams will reign supreme across the American League in 2014? Which of the AL's other 14 clubs are poised to take the next step or falter this season?

It's all here as we project the AL division winners along with three teams on the rise and decline. Here's the National League preview.

Division winners

East: Boston — We're picking the Red Sox to repeat as division champions, only this time they will fall shy of matching their 97-win season of a year ago, but still fend off Tampa Bay. Boston says bye to outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury (now with the division rival Yankees) but returns the nucleus of a roster that won the East by five-and-a-half games over the Rays.

Veteran A.J. Pierzynski replaces Jarrod Saltalamacchia at the catcher position, and highly touted Xander Bogaerts is the full-time shortstop in a lineup that scored more runs than any other team last year. Led by Jon Lester, the starting five pitchers return, along with 38-year-old closer Koji Uehara, who converted 21 of 24 save chances but will be hard-pressed to repeat his 1.09 earned-run average.

Former Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler is now in Detroit, where he will try to help the Tigers to a fourth straight AL Central title. (Carlos Osorio/Associated Press)

Central: Detroit — Coming of a third consecutive division title, the Tigers might run their way to a fourth. Unlike former manager Jim Leyland, expect rookie skipper Brad Ausmus to have Detroit burning up the basepaths, with Rajai Davis, Austin Jackson and perhaps newcomer Ian Kinsler leading the way.

Kinsler was acquired from Texas in a trade that sent Prince Fielder to the Rangers, while rookie Nick Castellanos takes over at third base. Ausmus will be hoping ace pitcher Justin Verlander can return to his 2012 form after a disappointing 2013 campaign and off-season core muscle surgery to lead a strong pitching staff. Detroit also brought in reliever Joba Chamberlain and veteran closer Joe Nathan after the bullpen ranked 24th in the majors in ERA last season and tied for 21st with 39 saves.

West: Texas — This pick might raise some eyebrows, given the Rangers' questions with their starting pitching. But Oakland, which could push Texas for top spot, also has pitching concerns of their own with Jarrod Parker to miss the season following Tommy John surgery.

The Texas lineup features on-base machine Shin-Soo Choo and the speedy Elvis Andrus at the top and up-and-coming second baseman Jurickson Profar and fleet-footed Leonys Martin at the bottom. In the middle is a powerful 3-4-5 of Prince Fielder, Adrian Beltre and Alex Rios. Yu Darvish leads a pitching staff that is minus regulars Derek Holland and Matt Harrison to start the season, while Colby Lewis returns from an injury marred 2013. Neftali Feliz is the expected closer, but will he return to pre-injury form?

On the rise

Chicago White Sox — The White Sox may not post 85 wins as they did in 2012, but we're confident they'll improve upon last season's 63-99 mark after general Rick Hahn made two significant additions in Cuban first baseman Jose Abreu and outfielder Adam Eaton. Abreu signed a six-year, $68-million US deal in the off-season and projects to hit for average and power, while Eaton, who was slowed by a sprained ligament in his left elbow last season with Arizona, should score plenty of runs and could make a run at 30 stolen bases.

Chris Sale anchors a pitching staff that includes a healthy John Danks and is filled out by up-and-comer Erik Johnson and former Kansas City flame thrower Felipe Paulino. Nate Jones is expected to take over at closer from Addison Reed, who was traded to Arizona for power-hitting third baseman Matt Davidson.

Kansas City — Coming off their first winning season since 2003, the Royals could raise their win total a little from last year's 86 if young hitters like Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas and Salvador Perez continue to improve at the plate. Setting the table for those run producers will be two newcomers in leadoff man Norichika Aoki (formerly of Milwaukee) and one-time Detroit infielder Omar Infante, a reliable contact hitter.

Starting pitcher Ervin Santana (now with Atlanta) is the only notable departure from last year's team that hit the fewest home runs in the American League with 112. There is plenty of hype about fifth starter Yordano Ventura, who reaches 102 miles per hour on the radar gun. And rock-solid closer Greg Holland fronts a bullpen that led the league in earned-run average in 2013.

Los Angeles Angels — The Angels have the talent to improve upon their 2013 record of 78-84. Health will be a big factor, specifically with slugging first baseman Albert Pujols and ace pitcher Jered Weaver. The 34-year-old Pujols, who still has 30-homer, 100-RBI potential, had his 2013 campaign end in late July due to a foot injury. Weaver, who missed the first two months of last season with an elbow injury, still managed 11 wins and a 3.27 earned-run average in 24 starts.

Management would like to see outfielder Josh Hamilton, a career .295 hitter, hit better than .250 as he did last season, and hopes the additions of third baseman David Freese and DH Raul Ibanez offset the power lost by the Mark Trumbo trade that brought pitching prospect Tyler Skaggs from Arizona. Hector Santiago is the other newcomer to a seemingly improved starting rotation.

On the decline

The Orioles signed free agent Ubaldo Jimenez to bolster their starting rotation. He posted a 3.30 ERA and 194 strikeouts last season with Cleveland but didn't have an ERA below 4.68 in each of the previous two years. (Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press)

Baltimore — We're expecting the Orioles to finish shy of the 85 wins achieved last season rather than a sharp decline in play. They added former Texas slugger Nelson Cruz to DH and starting pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez. But keep in mind that Cruz has never played a full season and is coming off a 50-game drug suspension. Jimenez posted a 3.30 ERA and 194 strikeouts last season but didn't have an ERA below 4.68 in each of the previous two years.

Beyond Chris Tillman and Jimenez, the starting rotation is a question mark, as is the closer role, where the unproven Tommy Hunter takes over from Jim Johnson. The latter, who was traded to Oakland for second baseman Jemile Weeks in the off-season, saved 50 games in each of his final two seasons in Baltimore.

Cleveland — Like in Baltimore, we don't believe a huge dropoff is in the offing, but neither is a repeat of 2013 when the Indians won 92 games. First off, there isn't a lot of experience on the pitching staff as Canadian reliever John Axford is the lone hurler in his 30s. Starters Ubaldo Jimenez and Scott Kazmir, who combined for 23 wins in 2013, left as free agents and outfielder Drew Stubbs is also gone. But 20 homers and 30 steals from second baseman Jason Kipnis, plus 30-plus starts from right-handers Danny Salazar and Corey Kluber would be something to get excited about.

So, too, is the thought of beating the defending Central Division champion Detroit Tigers, who prevailed in 15 of 19 meetings last season. Cleveland was 40-17 against the rest of the division.

Seattle — Well, at least for the first month or so we don't expect the Mariners to surge up the American League West standings. General manager Jack Zduriencik got many baseball fans in Seattle and elsewhere excited by signing free-agent second baseman Robinson Cano away from the Yankees for $240 million US over 10 years. But then No. 2 starter Hisashi Iwakuma sprained the middle finger on his pitching hand at the start of spring training and top pitching prospect Taijuan Walker followed with shoulder soreness. It could be at least the end of April before they build up sufficient arm strength, putting more pressure on ace Felix Hernandez.

The jury is out on newcomers Corey Hart and Logan Morrison, who must remain healthy if Seattle hopes to climb the standings. Injuries cost Hart the entire 2013 season and Morrison 77 contests.

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Jose Bautista, Blue Jays take down Phillies' split-squad

Jose Bautista extended his torrid spring training with a double and Esmil Rogers gave up just one run in five innings Thursday as the Blue Jays beat a Philadelphia Phillies' split squad 3-1.

Bautista went 1 for 3, and is hitting .359 with five homers, four doubles and 11 RBIs. Erik Kratz homered twice and was 3 for 3, and Moises Sierra also connected for Toronto.

Phillies starter David Buchanan gave up two of the homers but was sharp otherwise. Buchanan, who has a decent shot to make the team, gave up the two runs and struck out six in four innings. Buchanan started six games in Triple-A last year.

Tony Gwynn Jr. went 2 for 2 with a double, a run and a walk. Chase Utley drove in Gwynn with a first-inning double for the Phillies' only run.

Blue Jays: Esmil Rogers enjoyed his finest outing of the spring, allowing just one run over 4 2-3 innings.

Rogers is unlikely to make the Blue Jays' rotation, but could land a spot on the opening-day roster as a long bullpen arm. He has a 5.27 ERA this spring.

"It doesn't matter where I'm going to be I just want to help the team win," Rogers said. "It doesn't matter if it's in the bullpen or as a starter. Right now, they gave me an opportunity to compete for a spot so I'm going to do my best."

Phillies: Buchanan, 25, is in his first major league spring training camp, and looks to have a solid shot to either join the Phillies' hurting rotation or nab a spot in the bullpen as a long reliever.

Buchanan's runs came on back-to-back homers in the second inning.

"I was impressed with his composure," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "He had a couple of balls that were connected on, one was an 0-2 breaking pitch, he kept his composure, actually came inside on a couple of hitters after that to keep them honest. I thought he rebounded well there to minimize."

Trainer's room

Phillies: Darin Ruf was scratched from the Phillies' split-squad lineup in Kissimmee, Fla., after straining his left oblique during batting practice. He will visit with team doctors Saturday.

The injury will likely cause Ruf, a leading candidate for a bench job, to miss opening day.

"He's a guy competing, obviously, with what he's doing and his ability, his right-handed bat, he's competing for a bench job," Sandberg said. "We'll see what that means."

Ruf is hitting .217 this spring with two homers and seven RBIs.

Gwynn impressing

Tony Gwynn Jr., who signed a minor league deal with the Phillies this winter, is making a good impression on Phillies coaches this spring.

Gwynn went 2 for 3 Thursday. He's hitting .346 and provides crucial depth for a team thin on outfielders. It's a strong possibility Gwynn begins the season on the 25-man roster.

"He's a bright spot," Sandberg said. "His defence, his at-bats, his base running, are quality."

Pick up

The Blue Jays have claimed outfielder Matt Tuiasosopo off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks. To make room on the 40-man roster, they cut left-hander Luis Perez.

Tuiasosopo appeared in 16 games this spring for the Diamondbacks, hitting .118 with six RBIs in 34 at-bats. He hit .244 with seven homers and 30 RBIs in 81 games last year for Detroit.

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Reds closer Aroldis Chapman hit in face by line drive

Cincinnati Reds closer Aroldis Chapman broke bones above his left eye and nose after being hit by a line drive Wednesday night, another frightening incident involving a pitcher being struck by a batted ball.

Chapman was undergoing further testing at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, where he will spend the night for observation, according to a statement from the Reds.

Reds first-year manager Bryan Price said Chapman was conscious and talking as he was taken off the field during their game against the Kansas City Royals.

The game was called after an 8-minute delay with Kansas City leading 6-3.

"Not good," Price said. "He left the field on a stretcher, took a line drive just above his left eye is what it looks like — a contusion, a laceration, and certainly needs to be taken to the hospital and checked. We've got Tomas Vera, an assistant trainer, is going to be with him. And then we'll get our updates from there."

The hard-throwing left-hander was struck by Salvador Perez's hit with two outs in the sixth inning — the pitch was clocked at 99 mph. Chapman crumbled to the ground, face down, his legs flailing. The ball caromed into the third base dugout. Medical personnel, including Royals Dr. Vincent Key, rushed the field. Blood could be seen on the mound.

Perez put his hands on his helmet before reaching first base. He immediately went to the mound where players from both teams huddled as the 26-year-old Cuban was being attended to in an eerily silent stadium. An ambulance's siren could be heard in the background while Chapman was loaded onto the stretcher.

Chapman was taken to Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center in Sun City. He was then transferred to Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center.

Perez appeared to be in tears as he left the field and first baseman Eric Hosmer hugged him. Perez quickly left the clubhouse without speaking to reporters. Hosmer hit a line drive off the head of Tampa Bay's Alex Cobb last June. Cobb sustained a concussion.

Playing right field, Reds teammate Jay Bruce heard the ball hit Chapman.

"It was one of the more frightening and non-fun moments I've been a part of on the baseball field," he said.

After Chapman was driven off to the awaiting ambulance, Price and Royals manager Ned Yost met with the umpires.

"It was really a mutual agreement," crew chief Chris Guccione said. "Players were rattled. The staff was rattled. The umpires were rattled. We figured it was best, along with both teams in agreement that the game should end."

Oakland pitcher Brandon McCarthy, who had emergency surgery after he was struck in the head by a line drive in September 2012, urged caution in a twitter post.

"all reporting at this point means zilch, until he gets a scan," he said in a tweet.

Chapman, who throws a 100 mph fastball, had walked four Royals in the inning before being injured.

The two-time All-Star had 38 saves for the Reds last season.

When reporters walked into the Royals clubhouse, third baseman Mike Moustakas asked a team official to request that they leave.

"No one wants to talk," Moustakas said.

In January, Major League Baseball approved protective cap for pitchers after the occurrence of several terrifying scenes similar to this one in the last few years, including Toronto's J.A. Happ, who sustained a skull fracture.

The heavier and bigger hats were available for testing during spring training on a voluntary basis but the cap apparently would not have helped Chapman in this case.

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2014 MLB season: American League

A year ago, the Toronto Blue Jays were the talk of baseball. Many fans and so-called experts were projecting a World Series appearance, thanks to a bolstered roster, highlighted by the off-season additions of pitchers Josh Johnson, R.A. Dickey and Mark Buehrle, shortstop Jose Reyes and outfielder Melky Cabrera.

But things started to fall apart when they had to play the games. Injuries derailed the seasons of Johnson, Dickey, Reyes, Cabrera, slugger Jose Bautista and third baseman Brett Lawrie.

So, what now? Well, the Blue Jays' front office, manager John Gibbons, the players and fans can hope the aforementioned players, save for the departed Johnson (now with San Diego), have a healthy 2014, help the team make everyone forget last season's 74-88 record and contend for a playoff spot.

Could they even rise from last place and win the American League East Division? Hey, the Boston Red Sox did, following up a 69-win season in 2012 under manager Bobby Valentine with 97 wins, a division title and World Series championship playing for ex-Blue Jays skipper John Farrell.

"It does provide you with a fair amount of hope," White Sox general manager Rick Hahn told MLB.com last November, speaking in general terms and not about Toronto. "[The Red Sox] did it on the strength of good pitching and some shrewd moves along the way by the front office and the on-field management, John Farrell and his staff. And a little bit of luck sprinkled in along the way."

Will that luck spread to the oft-injured Brandon Morrow, unproven Drew Hutchison and whoever the Jays' final starter is along with Dickey and Buehrle? We'll know by September, and probably sooner.

Which teams will reign supreme across the American League in 2014? Which of the AL's other 14 clubs are poised to take the next step or falter this season?

It's all here as we project the AL division winners along with three teams on the rise and decline.

Division winners

East: Boston — We're picking the Red Sox to repeat as division champions, only this time they will fall shy of matching their 97-win season of a year ago, but still fend off Tampa Bay. Boston says bye to outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury (now with the division rival Yankees) but returns the nucleus of a roster that won the East by five-and-a-half games over the Rays.

Veteran A.J. Pierzynski replaces Jarrod Saltalamacchia at the catcher position, and highly touted Xander Bogaerts is the full-time shortstop in a lineup that scored more runs than any other team last year. Led by Jon Lester, the starting five pitchers return, along with 38-year-old closer Koji Uehara, who converted 21 of 24 save chances but will be hard-pressed to repeat his 1.09 earned-run average.

Former Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler is now in Detroit, where he will try to help the Tigers to a fourth straight AL Central title. (Carlos Osorio/Associated Press)

Central: Detroit — Coming of a third consecutive division title, the Tigers might run their way to a fourth. Unlike former manager Jim Leyland, expect rookie skipper Brad Ausmus to have Detroit burning up the basepaths, with Rajai Davis, Austin Jackson and perhaps newcomer Ian Kinsler leading the way.

Kinsler was acquired from Texas in a trade that sent Prince Fielder to the Rangers, while rookie Nick Castellanos takes over at third base. Ausmus will be hoping ace pitcher Justin Verlander can return to his 2012 form after a disappointing 2013 campaign and off-season core muscle surgery to lead a strong pitching staff. Detroit also brought in reliever Joba Chamberlain and veteran closer Joe Nathan after the bullpen ranked 24th in the majors in ERA last season and tied for 21st with 39 saves.

West: Texas — This pick might raise some eyebrows, given the Rangers' questions with their starting pitching. But Oakland, which could push Texas for top spot, also has pitching concerns of their own with Jarrod Parker to miss the season following Tommy John surgery.

The Texas lineup features on-base machine Shin-Soo Choo and the speedy Elvis Andrus at the top and up-and-coming second baseman Jurickson Profar and fleet-footed Leonys Martin at the bottom. In the middle is a powerful 3-4-5 of Prince Fielder, Adrian Beltre and Alex Rios. Yu Darvish leads a pitching staff that is minus regulars Derek Holland and Matt Harrison to start the season, while Colby Lewis returns from an injury marred 2013. Neftali Feliz is the expected closer, but will he return to pre-injury form?

On the rise

Chicago — The White Sox may not post 85 wins as they did in 2012, but we're confident they'll improve upon last season's 63-99 mark after general Rick Hahn made two significant additions in Cuban first baseman Jose Abreu and outfielder Adam Eaton. Abreu signed a six-year, $68-million US deal in the off-season and projects to hit for average and power, while Eaton, who was slowed by a sprained ligament in his left elbow last season with Arizona, should score plenty of runs and could make a run at 30 stolen bases.

Chris Sale anchors a pitching staff that includes a healthy John Danks and is filled out by up-and-comer Erik Johnson and former Kansas City flame thrower Felipe Paulino. Nate Jones is expected to take over at closer from Addison Reed, who was traded to Arizona for power-hitting third baseman Matt Davidson.

Kansas City — Coming off their first winning season since 2003, the Royals could raise their win total a little from last year's 86 if young hitters like Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas and Salvador Perez continue to improve at the plate. Setting the table for those run producers will be two newcomers in leadoff man Norichika Aoki (formerly of Milwaukee) and one-time Detroit infielder Omar Infante, a reliable contact hitter.

Starting pitcher Ervin Santana (now with Atlanta) is the only notable departure from last year's team that hit the fewest home runs in the American League with 112. There is plenty of hype about fifth starter Yordano Ventura, who reaches 102 miles per hour on the radar gun. And rock-solid closer Greg Holland fronts a bullpen that led the league in earned-run average in 2013.

Los Angeles Angels — The Angels have the talent to improve upon their 2013 record of 78-84. Health will be a big factor, specifically with slugging first baseman Albert Pujols and ace pitcher Jered Weaver. The 34-year-old Pujols, who still has 30-homer, 100-RBI potential, had his 2013 campaign end in late July due to a foot injury. Weaver, who missed the first two months of last season with an elbow injury, still managed 11 wins and a 3.27 earned-run average in 24 starts.

Management would like to see outfielder Josh Hamilton, a career .295 hitter, hit better than .250 as he did last season, and hopes the additions of third baseman David Freese and DH Raul Ibanez offset the power lost by the Mark Trumbo trade that brought pitching prospect Tyler Skaggs from Arizona. Hector Santiago is the other newcomer to a seemingly improved starting rotation.

On the decline

The Orioles signed free agent Ubaldo Jimenez to bolster their starting rotation. He posted a 3.30 ERA and 194 strikeouts last season with Cleveland but didn't have an ERA below 4.68 in each of the previous two years. (Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press)

Baltimore — We're expecting the Orioles to finish shy of the 85 wins achieved last season rather than a sharp decline in play. They added former Texas slugger Nelson Cruz to DH and starting pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez. But keep in mind that Cruz has never played a full season and is coming off a 50-game drug suspension. Jimenez posted a 3.30 ERA and 194 strikeouts last season but didn't have an ERA below 4.68 in each of the previous two years.

Beyond Chris Tillman and Jimenez, the starting rotation is a question mark, as is the closer role, where the unproven Tommy Hunter takes over from Jim Johnson. The latter, who was traded to Oakland for second baseman Jemile Weeks in the off-season, saved 50 games in each of his final two seasons in Baltimore.

Cleveland — Like in Baltimore, we don't believe a huge dropoff is in the offing, but neither is a repeat of 2013 when the Indians won 92 games. First off, there isn't a lot of experience on the pitching staff as Canadian reliever John Axford is the lone hurler in his 30s. Starters Ubaldo Jimenez and Scott Kazmir, who combined for 23 wins in 2013, left as free agents and outfielder Drew Stubbs is also gone. But 20 homers and 30 steals from second baseman Jason Kipnis, plus 30-plus starts from right-handers Danny Salazar and Corey Kluber would be something to get excited about.

So, too, is the thought of beating the defending Central Division champion Detroit Tigers, who prevailed in 15 of 19 meetings last season. Cleveland was 40-17 against the rest of the division.

Seattle — Well, at least for the first month or so we don't expect the Mariners to surge up the American League West standings. General manager Jack Zduriencik got many baseball fans in Seattle and elsewhere excited by signing free-agent second baseman Robinson Cano away from the Yankees for $240 million US over 10 years. But then No. 2 starter Hisashi Iwakuma sprained the middle finger on his pitching hand at the start of spring training and top pitching prospect Taijuan Walker followed with shoulder soreness. It could be at least the end of April before they build up sufficient arm strength, putting more pressure on ace Felix Hernandez.

The jury is out on newcomers Corey Hart and Logan Morrison, who must remain healthy if Seattle hopes to climb the standings. Injuries cost Hart the entire 2013 season and Morrison 77 contests.

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