News

For a team beginning the second half of the season a game under .500 and 10 games off the pace in the American League East, it was quite a ringing endorsement from Toronto Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi last night.

In fact, even if the Blue Jays go into the tank, Ricciardi said the current lineup will be in place for several years.

"We've got a good club, we want to keep it together," Ricciardi said last night in front of the Toronto dugout at Fenway Park in Boston, a couple of hours before the Blue Jays began the first game of a four-game series against the Red Sox.

The Blue Jays sported a 43-44 record heading into the Boston series, not too shabby, considering the injuries that have hit the team this season.

With the return last night of first baseman Lyle Overbay, who missed more than a month with a fractured right hand, the Blue Jays had all their starting position players in the lineup for the first time since the first week of the season.

Last week, left fielder Reed Johnson returned to the lineup after close to a three-month absence because of back surgery.

Having close to his No.ƒ1 lineup finally in place has obviously ramped up Ricciardi's optimism.

"We could bring this whole club back totally healthy next year and we could be the guys in first place," he said. "¡K There's no underachievers on it, there's no old guys [where] you're trying to move bad contracts.

"It's a good group. I like our group. I want to go to battle with this group."

That would include third baseman Troy Glaus, who has been the focus of trade rumours this season involving both the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Ricciardi shot down the rumours, saying Glaus will remain. "I like Troy Glaus, I worked really hard to get him here," Ricciardi said.

The GM also said he does not expect to make any moves before the July 31 trade deadline.

"Someone would really have to knock us over with something," Ricciardi said. "I like this group. You look at this lineup, it's a good lineup.

"Our rotation now, with the young kids pitching as well as they have, it's a good rotation."

The Blue Jays are still not completely healthy. Starting pitchers A.J. Burnett and Gustavo Chacin, both with sore shoulders, are both showing progress in their rehabilitation, Ricciardi said.

Ricciardi said both could be back by the end of the month, as could reliever Brandon League, who has not played a game with Toronto all season after experiencing arm troubles in spring training.

"We're on the road to wellness," Ricciardi said.