Having added Marcus Semien, the Blue Jays are more loaded than ever

In case you missed it - or better yet, blocked it - Toronto/Buffalo yesterday signed IF Marcus Semien, who placed third in the 2019 MVP stolen election, to a one-year, $18 million deal. This comes just days after the Devil Jays backloaded OF George Springer and closer Kirby Yates, and a month after securing LH starter Robbie Ray. 

Hear that siren off in the distance? It's coming for us.

If the 2020 miniseason had lasted one more week, Toronto might have whooshed past us into the top Wild Card slot that Yankee fans have come to equate with success. In recent weeks, every hopeful Yank move - DJ, Kluber, Taillon - has been quickly countered by the Jays, who look ready to do to us in 2021 what the Devil Rays did last year.

Yeesh. They're practically a tag team. The Rays win the AL East and torture us in the playoffs, and then - come winter - they reload for 2022, slap hands with the Jays and say, "They're all yours!" Toronto had a rising team last year. They've now added three legitimate stars. And they might not be done. Their owner doesn't poormouth about paying luxury taxes.

Here's a possible lineup (with ages this year)

cf George Springer (32)
ss Bo Bichette (23)
1b Vladimir Guererro Jr. (22)
lf Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (27)
3b Marcus Semien (31)
dh Teoscar Hernandez (28)
2b Cavan Biggio, (26)
rf Randall Grichuk (29)
c Danny Jansen (26)

Supposedly, Guererro has ditched the Big Macs and no longer resembles Rosie O'Donnell in League of Their Own. He, Bichette, Biggio and Hernandez are, by themselves, an emerging nation. You might consider Jansen, a defensive catcher, as a weak link; he only finished about 40 points higher than The Great Sanchez.

(We should have a IIHIIFIIc Swear Bucket, where every time somebody blurts out "Gary" or "Sanchez," they must put five dollars toward a worthy charity, such as the Hal Steinbrenner Retirement Fund. Sadly, though, our 2021 may hinge on whether Gary makes a comeback. If he does, we have a chance. If not, well, we'll piss away two months  watching him, and then have to trade for a journeyman. Uh-oh, I gotta  put $20 in the bucket.) 

Toronto has an ace in Hyun Jin Ryu, and a rotation that - though it won't replace Maddux/Glavine/Smoltz -isn't a list of players who are rehabbing from Tommy John. Their top prospect, 24-year-old RH Nate Pearson, will be ready, so spare us your personal excitement about Deivi Garcia. Every team has one.

The Yankees still have a move or two to make. Maybe a LH bat. Maybe a pitcher. Maybe even a trade Clint or Miggy. Whatever happens, we'll likely go to spring training as favorites - for another Wild Card.

Oh, one last thing: 

Fuck "Catsup Curt" Schilling.