--RHP Matt Clement agreed to a minor league contract with the Blue Jays. Clement, 34, had major surgery on a torn labrum two years ago, and in 2008 he made 16 rehab starts at three levels within the St. Louis Cardinals' organization. Over nine big-league seasons, Clement is 87-86 with a 4.47 ERA.
--Manager Cito Gaston isn't looking for the Jays to be a contender in the 2009 season. The veteran skipper instead is setting his sights on 2010. "We'll have a good team in 2010 and for a long time," Gaston said. "But right now, today, we have three starters (RHP Roy Halladay, RHP Jesse Litsch and LHP David Purcey). We have a chance to be thorns in the side of other teams." --Davey Johnson, the manager of Team USA in this spring's World Baseball Classic, will try to convince RHP Roy Halladay to pitch for his team. "We've already talked to his agent," Johnson said. "Roy is worried about us not being on the same regimen that he is on." Halladay has expressed concerns about being asked to pitch in competitive games so early in the spring process.
--General manager J.P. Ricciardi made a pitch during the winter meetings to obtain free agent SS Rafael Furcal. If the Jays can't land Furcal, they'll head into spring training with Marco Scutaro slotted as their everyday shortstop.
--RHP Carl Pavano's representatives met with the Blue Jays. Pavano, who is coming off a dismal four-year campaign with the New York Yankees after signing a $39.95 million contract, is a free agent. "Obviously we have interest," GM J.P. Ricciardi said. "It's all going to depend on what his expectations are."
BY THE NUMBERS: 0 -- Players selected or lost by the Blue Jays' organization in the major league portion of the Rule 5 draft at the winter meetings.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We're better off preparing for a worst-case scenario." -- General manager J.P. Ricciardi's mind-set at the winter meetings regarding the team's longshot chance of re-signing RHP A.J. Burnett.
