Blue Jays: Five things to know
Blue Jays: Camp tour | 
Outlook | Cactus/Grapefruit League stops
DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Five things to know about the Toronto Blue Jays:
1. Nice raise: Vernon Wells' contract extension kicks in with full force this season as his salary jumps to $12.5 million from last year's $1.5 million. While writing the checks, what the Jays really hope is that Wells' Nov. 11 wrist surgery improves things for both them and him. Thanks to cortisone shots and anti-inflammatories, Wells made it to the gate for 158 games last season but only hit .260 with 15 homers and 66 RBI. Wells says he feels better than he has in two years. "He's a very tough player," new Toronto general manager Alex Anthopoulos says. "He plays hurt, he runs every ball out, he doesn't show emotion. He cares as much as any player I've ever been around. ... He feels a lot better this spring than last, and he's really taken on more of a leadership role. I've really seen a change in him. He's much more vocal and assertive. It's great to see."
2. With ace Roy Halladay having been shipped to Philadelphia, the Jays' rotation is a work in progress. There is nobody here who has ever thrown 200 or more innings in a season. Lefty Ricky Romero becomes the staff "veteran," and his career high is 178. Shaun Marcum, recovering from Tommy John ligament transfer surgery (he missed all of 2009), has never topped 160. Those two, and right-hander Brandon Morrow (obtained from Seattle over the winter) are as close to locks as anybody for the rotation. Beyond that, several pitchers are vying for spots: Lefties Brett Cecil, Brian Tallet, Dana Eveland and David Purcey and right-handers Mark Rzepczynski and Scott Richmond (who won eight games last year but is nursing a tender shoulder here in the early spring). Then there's Dustin McGowan, who showed promise in 2007 (12 wins in 27 starts) but had last year wrecked by shoulder and knee surgeries. The Jays are hoping he's back to full speed by the end of camp.
3. Anthopoulos on the rotation: "We don't have anybody who is assured of a job by any means. Romero, Marcum and Morrow, Brian Tallet, nobody is assured of anything. We have a lot of young kids we're excited about. It will be a fun competition. We have a group of starters who have been up here [in the majors] for a cup of coffee. Everyone has options left [and, thus, could be sent back to the minors if need be]. They all know that no one will be handed a job." Essentially, what the Jays are doing is looking to build a deep and strong rotation for 2011 and 2012.
4. The key prospect acquired in the Halladay trade, right-hander Kyle Drabek, probably will open the season at Double-A New Hampshire. However, if the kid has a good spring ... "Anything can happen in spring training," Anthopoulos says. "We think he still needs more innings and development time. When he gets here, we want him here to stay." One comparable situation is that of Jesse Litsch, the Jays' right-hander currently out until June or July following elbow surgery. On his way up, Litsch moved up to the Double-A Eastern League from the Class A Florida State League and then advanced to the Jays from there. "At that level, you're just a phone call away," Anthopoulos says.
5. Talk about a whirlwind entrance: Since last fall, Anthopoulos has been promoted to GM of the Jays, he has traded Halladay and he got married on Jan. 2. Maybe now he can slow down. "It's been nuts," he says.
