BLUE JAYS ADD STAIRS

The Globe and Mail is reporting that Canadian-born first baseman-DH Matt Stairs has signed with the Blue Jays.

Stairs is strictly insurance at first base and DH at this point in case something happens to Frank Thomas or Lyle Overbay, and he gives the Jays a lefty hitter to come off the bench. (If Royce Clayton ends up being the everyday shortstop, then there should be plenty of late-inning pinch-hitting opportunities.)

Gil Meche has signed with the Kansas City Royals (have fun, Gil) and Ted Lilly is gone to the Cubs, leaving the Jays still at loose ends with the rotation. Gustavo Chacin, and two of Casey Janssen, Shawn Marcum and Ty Taubenheim for the final two spots. Oh, and Josh Towers can't be ruled out now. Gulp.

But as for Meche and his $9 million a year from K.C., Baseball Musings opines, "Locking up Meche for five years just means five years of okay to bad pitching. Then again, given the state of the Royals staff, Gil is an improvement. He really should be seen as a stop gap, however."

This is pretty thin gruel right now, but as Batter's Box notes losing Lilly and Frank Catalanotto through free agency, coupled with other defections, could give the Jays seven picks among the first 84 selections in next June's amateur draft. Use them wisely, J.P. Ricciardi.