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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida – A comment Mark DeRosa made in August as he reflected on what, by then, clearly was a failed 2013 Blue Jays season, is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore looking ahead to the prospects for next years squad. "When Brandon Morrow went down, that killed us," said the now former Blue Jay, referring to the forearm injury Morrow suffered in late May that ended his season. With general manager Alex Anthopoulos uncomfortable, at least for the time being, with the market price for mid-range starting pitching and with no acquisition, either through free agency or via trade, apparently imminent, Morrows return to health is crucial to the Jays becoming the contender many thought they would be a year ago. Morrow is throwing in Arizona and early reports on his bullpen sessions and a simulated game are positive. But can Morrow give Toronto 180 or more innings? Hes done it only once in his career (2011) and even if he can is a Morrow, R.A. Dickey and Mark Buehrle front three enough for the Jays to contend in an American League East thats demise is annually predicted but never realized? Assuming Morrow, Dickey and Buehrle are the front three, is it the right approach for a club trying to contend now to count on one of Drew Hutchison, Kyle Drabek, Sean Nolin or Marcus Stroman to impress enough in spring training to crack the back end of the rotation for a spot alongside J.A. Happ? Anthopoulos has discussed the need for an improved rotation since the middle of last summer, when he began lamenting the combined ERA of the starting staff which would finish second-worst in baseball, ahead of only lowly Minnesota. The Twins, whether or not you agree with the moves, have been proactive, inking veteran National Leaguer Ricky Nolasco (four years/$49 million) and former Yankee Phil Hughes (three years/$24 million). "I think my position has been that as we sit here today the trade market seems more viable," said Anthopoulos. "Thats not to say that wont change a week from now or two weeks from now as the prices for free agents change." In fact, Anthopoulos says, in his most recent conversations hes noticing a shift downward in the price of some free agents. He acknowledges that the names of prospects Stroman and Aaron Sanchez come up in almost all the trade conversation he has but that hes not eager to move his upper level rotation depth. Free agent right-hander Matt Garza could become more appealing if his arm problems limit him to a shorter term contract. At the very least, hes worth exploring given his past success in the division as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays for three seasons, starting in 2008. Another option, through a modified form of free agency, is Masahiro Tanaka. It seems farfetched, however. Depending on how the posting process is settled for the Japanese phenom, the Jays could get involved. If, as expected, the bidding is capped at $20 million, Toronto could post the maximum. The problem is a number of other clubs, particularly the big market, high spending teams, could and likely would do the same which would create a situation where Tanaka could sign with the high bidder of his choosing. Hed be in prime position to leverage up his contract and select the city in which he wishes to pitch. Tanaka is only 25 and has two years left on his contract with the Rakuten Golden Eagles. He posted a record of 24-0 with a 1.27 ERA and 0.943 WHIP in 2013. That WHIP, incredible for a starting pitcher, isnt even his best. In 2011, Tanaka had a 0.875 WHIP. Hes known as a fastball/splitter specialist who, over his seven seasons in Japan, has struck out 4.5 hitters for every walk. Anthopoulos continues to pursue leads, knowing a rotation of Dickey, Morrow, Buehrle, Happ and (insert rookie here) wont inspire confidence in a fan base counting on a bounce back season. There remains plenty of work to do. Fortunately, there too remains plenty of time. THE FIVE-YEAR TERM LIMIT The Blue Jays are known for their policy on five-year contract limits. Anthopoulos suggests theres wiggle room if the circumstances are right. "I think weve said, six (years), will you bend a little bit and do something like that, I think we havent ruled it out," said Anthopoulos. "Our preference is certainly five. Weve never really had to deviate from that. Weve never looked seriously at doing that." There are few examples of extended long-term deals that have worked out. Albert Pujols seven-year, $100 million contract signed with the Cardinals prior to the 2005 season would be one but for each of those, there are more of the Carlos Beltran-Mets type of deals. Beltran had a stellar first four seasons in New York but was plagued by injury during the back half of the contract. Prince Fielder is another example, traded by the Tigers last month just two years into a nine-year, $214 million deal signed after the 2011 season. "I dont know that its that strict a policy but its certainly a strong guideline that maybe we would stretch a little bit and go to six," said Anthopoulos. "Now, you start getting beyond six, I dont see that occurring." JAYS ROUND OUT COACHING STAFF Tim Leiper, who served as a minor league consultant for the Blue Jays last season, is expected to be named the clubs new first base coach. A source close to Leiper confirmed the news to TSN.ca. Leiper replaces Dwayne Murphy, who retired at the end of the year. A native of Whittier, California, Leiper, 46, has an extensive coaching background in the minor leagues and with Baseball Canada. Anthopoulos familiarity with Leiper dates back more than a decade. Leiper managed the Ottawa Lynx, then the Triple-A affiliate of the Montreal Expos, in 2002. Anthopoulos was working in the Expos front office at the time. DAVIS SIGNS WITH TIGERS It was a foregone conclusion Rajai Davis wouldnt be returning to the Blue Jays. A free agent for the first time, Davis inked a two-year contract with the Detroit Tigers. According to reports, the deal is for $10 million. Davis spent three seasons with the Blue Jays, compiling a slash line of .252/.299/.369 in 345 games. He stole 125 bases in a Toronto uniform. The Blue Jays will look to go younger and cheaper to fill Davis roster spot. Anthony Gose, a less refined base stealer at this point in his career, figures to be the prime candidate to replace Davis. Moises Sierra, whos out of options and has been playing some first base in Dominican League winter ball, will receive consideration. Kevin Pillar is another option, although less likely given his offensive struggles as a late-season call-up. Jrue Holiday Jersey .com) - The Columbus Blue Jackets rewarded starting goaltender and pending restricted free agent Sergei Bobrovsky with a four-year contract extension on Friday. Nikola Mirotic Jersey .com) - Devin Booker scored 19 points and top-ranked Kentucky put on a defensive clinic in an 83-44 obliteration of UCLA in the CBS Sports Classic. http://www.shoppelicansonline.com/Authentic-ETwaun-Moore-Pelicans-Jersey/ .C. -- Kevin Harvick won his first career pole at Darlington Raceway on Friday as he looks to chase his first Southern 500. Solomon Hill Pelicans Jersey . As future stars prepare to make the big leap to the professional ranks, TSNs Draft Week delivers wall-to-wall coverage of both the NHL and NBA Entry Drafts, highlighted by exclusive live coverage of both events. ETwaun Moore Pelicans Jersey . Mickelson shot a 2-under 70 after opening with a 77 -- his worst score of the season -- on TPC San Antonios AT&T Oaks Course. Lefty was 11 strokes behind leader Steven Bowditch, the Australian who had a 67 to reach 8-under 136.Heres what I have learned about Sarah Burke. She was a pioneer. She did things on skis that made the birds take notice. Sarah Burke was a crusader. For years she fought to get womens halfpipe recognized as a sport. She was a dreamer too. Her mom, Jan Phelan, told me that even as a little kid she wanted to ski in the Olympics. Jan still lives and makes art only a few blocks away from her daughters house in Squamish, B.C. A few weeks before the Sochi Olympics I went to meet her to talk about her daughters legacy. She told me about how when Sarah took up halfpipe as a teenager, as the only woman in the sport, she competed against men. “So she said , Okay, I will compete against the senior men. And so she came fourth, and landed the first 1080 in a competition. And so of all of these men, many of whom were on the world cup circuit, Sarah, this little kid came fourth. Isnt that something?" Thats how Sarah Burke first put womens halfpipe on the map. But she didnt stop there. Jan remembers proofreading the emails Sarah wrote when she was 14 to the X Games asking them why women couldnt compete. At events Sarah tracked down officials and demanded women be given a chance. For years she was turned down. “She would be crying in her goggles and venting her frustration and then she would say, Okay, I am going to go back and talk to them again. I could just imagine the tears filling up her goggles because she was so mad. And she had worked so hard at it.” Some super sad times I met Sarahs husband, Rory Bushfield, on his driveway. And in a matter of moments he had conviced me to put his bike in our little CBC rental car and shuttle him up a mountain so he could go for a ride. We obliiged.dddddddddddd “Its been two years since Sarah passed and I have gone through some super sad times but everything about Sarah is easy to smile about. She did it with grace, and she did it with class, pushed herself in the right places, skied half pipe like a champion, did so many first tricks for women that had never been done, you know, continued to push and continued to push.” Finally, in 2005, Sarah broke through. Her work paid off. Womens halfpipe got a spot in the world championships. Sarah won gold, and in her post-run interview she kept on pushing: “I am keeping my fingers crossed for the Olympics, we are only get better and I am hoping to get it in there.” But Sarah would never make it to the Olympics. On Jan. 19, 2012, Sarah Burke died after a crash while training in Utah. But in a way she won her fight. She got her sport into the Olympics. And so in Sochi, when the women drop into the halfpipe for the first time, Sarahs dream will have come true. Canadian slopestyle Spencer OBrien was a close friend of Burkes, and after her qualifying runs she showed me the little tape banner that still hangs on her board two years after Sarah died. Jan Phelan is making the long trip from Squamish to Sochi. She wants to stand near the halfpipe as the women compete and witness her daughters legacy. “If you had asked me, before this happened, what was the worst thing in my life would be, it would be to lose a child. To lose Sarah. I now know that there is one thing worse and that is to never have had her at all. Right. So what that tells me is to look at all these wonderful things she did accomplish and to enjoy them, let them bring you happiness.” ' ' '