Toronto's mantra for 2009 is simple: stay healthy and hope the starting rotation overachieves. Most prognosticators put the team no higher than fourth in the five-team American League East, and even the organization itself is dampening expectations, instead looking ahead to 2010 and beyond when a solid batch of prospects becomes major-league ready.

Rolen is hoping to improve upon a disappointing 2008 season when he missed 47 games with shoulder trouble and was forced to reconstruct his swing. He hit .262 with only 11 homers and 50 RBI.

His goals are simpler than in the past, when he was a perennial all-star with the Phillies and Cardinals: keep progressing with his swing and improve his performance.

"I took it further this off-season," said Rolen of his new batting mechanics. "It's hard to do, period, at any time. There's enough time to get my repetitions in and see what happens."

Manager Cito Gaston is looking for a "big season" from Rolen, but translated that means bigger than '08. That's the same outlook he has for outfielders Vernon Wells and Alex Rios and second sacker Aaron Hill.