Time to Fear the Blue Jays?

By - Lauren Dundee

In a matter of days, the Toronto Blue Jays went from an average fourth place team -- to serious contenders for the AL East crown.

How? By adding big names to their lineup.

Photo by: Getty Images

The biggest additions came in a blockbuster trade with the Miami Marlins. The Blue Jays acquired superstar Jose Reyes, ace Josh Johnson, pitcher Mark Buehrle, infielder Emilio Bonifacio, and catcher John Buck (along with $4 million in cash). In return, the Marlins received shortstop Yunel Escobar, pitcher Henderson Alvarez, infielder Adeiny Hechavarria, and three minor league prospects.

It certainly seems like Toronto got the better end of the deal.

For that reason, the fans of south Florida are in a major uproar. Commissioner Bud Selig has since stepped in to review the trade, citing the anger of the fans.

The Marlins new stadium, which has only been open for seven months, was funded primarily by tax dollars -- so with three of the team's best players now gone, the people of Miami are furious.

On the other hand, Blue Jays fans everywhere are ecstatic. And later in the week, they saw yet another amazing addition added to their club in fallen star Melky Cabrera.

Cabrera, who had been suspended 50-games in August for testing positive for testosterone, inked a 2-year deal with Toronto. Before being suspended, he led the National League in hits and was second in average. Cabrera was also the MVP of last season's All-Star Game.

Needless to say, the Blue Jays now have themselves a stacked lineup packed full of postseason potential.

Toronto hasn't made the playoffs since 1993, which marked the second of their back-to-back World Series championships. Since then, they have frequently finished behind the big spenders in the division, the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.

But so far, the Jays have done everything right this offseason.

The AL East is still one of the best divisions in baseball, and Toronto has positioned themselves to be one of the best teams in it. Heavy competition still remains with the Yankees, Orioles, and Rays, but these new acquisitions have Toronto's stock rising by the second.