The New Player

Before the Rule 5 draft, of course, we shouldn't forget that the Jays also added Buck Coats from the Reds for future considerations; those have since proven to be RHP Justin James.

Let's do James first; simply put, he's got a starter's stuff but a reliever's repetoire. James throws fastball/changeup and has a little curve that doesn't do much for him. The fastball tops out in the high 80s though, so he depends on the change to be successful. He's an interchangeable righthanded fifth/sixth-inning guy.

Coats was pretty much a forgotten man in Cincinnati, who never showed much desire for the guy, but frankly I don't think he got any more respect from the Cubs who originally drafted him and then tried to find a position for him where he could carry both his glove and his bat. He's absolutely no shortstop although the Cubs tried him there for three years after moving him off centerfield, and he doesn't have the quickness for second base, so his success will depend on his bat and being able to play a good centerfield. I doubt he'll be more than the fourth-best centerfielder on the big league team, though, so I don't see a job for him unless he bumps his OBP 40-50 points.

I'd be shocked if Coats ended up with more service time than James. You can always use a 12th pitcher like James to soak up mid-game innings when you're losing; a guy who hits like Coats but who can't play the infield, is a guy you'll have a hard time finding a spot for if you already have a good defensive outfield.