--GM J.P. Ricciardi said there's one name remaining on the free agent list the Jays find appealing -- RHP Tony Armas Jr.

"We have some interest there. We've talked to him in the past," Ricciardi said of Armas, who last year with Washington was 9-12 with a 5.03 ERA in 30 starts.

--GM J.P. Ricciardi said he's still looking for a starter who can replace LHP Ted Lilly's innings (181 2/3 in 2006).

"If a guy gives you innings, you know you're going to get victories out of him," he said. "We know with the addition of DH Frank Thomas we're going to score runs and we can catch the ball."

--With the loss of free agent OF Frank Catalanotto, who hits left-handed, and the addition of right-handed hitters DH Frank Thomas and OF Matt Stairs, the Jays will sport a lineup that leans heavily to the right. Manager John Gibbons will have just two left-handed hitters -- 1B Lyle Overbay and switch-hitting catcher Gregg Zaun.

In attempting to split them in his lineup, Gibbons said he's toying with the idea of having Overbay hit second. He would be followed by CF Vernon Wells, Thomas, 3B Troy Glaus, RF Alex Rios and then Zaun.

"But I don't know," Gibbons said. "Zaun's always bugging me to hit second. He really wants to."

--Manager John Gibbons is enthusiastic about right-hander Shaun Marcum, who will be one of the young starters who will be auditioning for a starting spot.

"We like what Marcum has done," Gibbons said. "He's got to get a little tougher against the lefties, but he doesn't get rattled and he's a competitor."

--Ricciardi said the club remains interested in trying to sign 1B Lyle Overbay, who is eligible for arbitration, to a multiyear contract. "We're still working on it," he said.

BY THE NUMBERS
10 -- The number of combined wins supplied by RHP Josh Towers, RHP Casey Janssen and RHP Shaun Marcum in 43 starts in 2006. Towers, Janssen and Marcum are the front-runners for the two open spots in the Jays rotation.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"We don't have to panic today." -- General manager J.P. Ricciardi about his team's starting rotation, which has two holes to fill.

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