As of right now we’re looking at:

1. Jose Reyes, SS
2. Emilio Bonifacio, 2nd
3. Jose Bautista, RF
4. Edwin Encarnacion, 1st
5. Brett Lawrie, 3rd
6. Colby Rasmus, CF
7. J.P. Arencibia, DH
8. John Buck, C
9. Rajai Davis/Maicer Izturis, LF

+ D’Arnaud, Gose, McCoy, Lind

Reyes definitely adds some pop to the top of that order. And between Reyes, Bonifacio, and Davis, you’re looking at some seriously dangerous base runners. Lots of stolen bases, keep the opposing pitchers on their toes.

I think the core we have now is stronger, and this trade is more significant than those signings. So we’re probably, at least on paper, in the best shape we’ve been in for a long time. Now we just have to get a good manager and hope to stay healthy and we could be in the hunt next September and October.

Still, I’m reluctant to give up either Gardiner or Reilly. Gardiner has had time to develop unlike Schenn, not rushed, and he’s had success at every level. Not sure about Reilly.

However I think people are in for a rude awakening with Gardiner and Reilly, more so Gardiner. Toronto will turn on either the moment they fail to live up to the hype and a once great commodity will become worthless.

We do this routinely with blueliners. Build them up them trash them the second the turn over the puck once or twice in any given game. Phaneuf was top five in minutes, top ten in blueliner scoring and -5 on a terrible team and people talk about him like he’s useless. The honeymoon phase with Gardiner has maybe a season and a half left. In the meantime he could be the piece to finally land a quality center.

Percy, Blacker ect… aren’t prospect that will land a superstar forward.

The last lockout the Leafs got bent over because of financial woes (thank you Owen Nolan) and an aging roster so they missed out on a fantasy league type off season. However given the mounting pressure of 7 lost seasons and no delusions of having contender potential (yeah, Mats wasn’t good enough to build a contender around) a GM could take advantage of a loaded UFA pool.

The best thing about the lockout is that it handicaps teams ability to re-up their existing talent to extend their pending UFA talent.

So a team with money could supposedly offer Getzlaf and Perry fat contracts to stay together. They might be a bit cashed starved after a year off. Not to mention the Leafs would have among the best odds in a draft lotto. Neither would be a lock however the Leafs would be well positioned as any team to make a run at turning over their roster for high end talent.

If the last lockout was an indication then the trade market would be interesting as well. Gardiner, Rielly would make interesting trade bait for a blockbuster.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBsEzolynBg&feature=related

Brilliant marketing, if you ask me. Plus, they must have been fun as hell to make.

Here’s one of the Nike ads (though only for the first 30 secs or so):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpZfovuQQac