By Matt Eddy
November 13, 2006

Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched (without regard to service time) are eligible. Ages are as of April 1, 2007.

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TOP TEN PROSPECTS

1. Adam Lind, of 2. Travis Snider, of 3. Ricky Romero, lhp 4. Ryan Patterson, of 5. Curtis Thigpen, c 6. Francisco Rosario, rhp 7. Brandon Magee, rhp 8. Jesse Litsch, rhp 9. David Purcey, lhp 10. Balbino Fuenmayor, 3b

BEST TOOLS

Best Hitter for Average Adam Lind Best Power Hitter Travis Snider Best Strike-Zone Discipline Curtis Thigpen Fastest Baserunner Adam Calderone Best Athlete Yuber Rodriguez Best Fastball Francisco Rosario Best Curveball Chi-Hung Chen Best Slider Brandon Magee Best Changeup Ricky Romero Best Control Josh Banks Best Defensive Catcher Brian Jeroloman Best Defensive Infielder Jonathan Diaz Best Infield Arm Sergio Santos Best Defensive Outfielder Chris Emanuele Best Outfield Arm Brian Pettway

PROJECTED 2010 LINEUP

Catcher Curtis Thipgen First Base Lyle Overbay Second Base Russ Adams Third Base Troy Glaus Shortstop Aaron Hill Left Field Travis Snider Center Field Vernon Wells Right Field Alex Rios Designated Hitter Adam Lind No. 1 Starter Roy Halladay No. 2 Starter A.J. Burnett No. 3 Starter Ricky Romero No. 4 Starter Dustin McGowan No. 5 Starter Gustavo Chacin Closer B.J. Ryan

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2006 1997 Roy Halladay, rhp Blue Jays 1998 Roy Halladay, rhp Blue Jays 1999 Roy Halladay, rhp Blue Jays 2000 Vernon Wells, of Blue Jays 2001 Vernon Wells, of Blue Jays 2002 Josh Phelps, c Tigers 2003 Dustin McGowan, rhp Blue Jays 2004 Alex Rios, of Blue Jays 2005 Brandon League, rhp Blue Jays 2006 Dustin McGowan, rhp Blue Jays

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2006 1997 Vernon Wells, of Blue Jays 1998 Felipe Lopez, ss Nationals 1999 Alex Rios, of Blue Jays 2000 Miguel Negron, of Cubs 2001 Gabe Gross, of Brewers 2002 Russ Adams, ss Blue Jays 2003 Aaron Hill, ss Blue Jays 2004 David Purcey, lhp Blue Jays 2005 Ricky Romero, lhp Blue Jays 2006 Travis Snider, of Blue Jays

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY

Ricky Romero, 2005 $2,400,000 Felipe Lpez, 1998 $2,000,000 Gabe Gross, 2001 $1,865,000 Russ Adams, 2002 $1,785,000 Travis Snider, 2006 $1,700,000

BLUE JAYS LINKS

Blue Jays' Team Page Blue Jays Top 10 Scouting Reports  Last Year's Blue Jays Top 10 Prospects 2006 Draft: Blue Jays (Basic Database) 2006 Draft: Blue Jays  (Advanced Database) 2006 Draft Report Cards: AL East  Complete Index of Top 10 Prospects Pre-Order the 2007 Prospect Handbook

The Blue Jays have come a long way from their last-place 2004 season, and they managed to finish higher than third place for the first time since they won back-to-back World Series in 1993. To take the next step--making the playoffs--Toronto once again will have to rely on an increased payroll rather than major contributions from its farm system.

Toronto had baseball's sixth-lowest payroll at $46 million in 2005, but jumped to 16th overall at $72 million by Opening Day 2006. With little impact talent in their farm system, the Blue Jays signed free agents A.J. Burnett and B.J. Ryan and traded for Troy Glaus and Lyle Overbay. General manager J.P. Ricciardi isn't shy about pointing out the payroll discrepencies that exist between his club and the big-spending Yankees and Red Sox in the American League East.

Ownership has signed off on another payroll increase, and Ricciardi likely will have as much as $95 million at his disposal for 2007. Finding a shortstop is Toronto's top priority, and the club's hole at that position is all the more glaring considering the Blue Jays used first-round picks on college shortstops Russ Adams and Aaron Hill in Ricciardi's first two drafts. Neither was considered a lock to stay at the position, and Adams regressed on both offense and defense in 2006.

In their five drafts under Ricciardi, the Blue Jays have focused almost solely on college players, with more of an emphasis on a track record of statistical success than on potential high ceilings. Adam Lind, who hit .367 in his September debut, may be the first impact bat drafted since Ricciardi's arrival, but there are few behind him in the system with the exception of 2006 first-round pick Travis Snider. The system is stocked primarily with control pitchers, with most of the electric arms (led by 2006 rookie righthanders Brandon League, Dustin McGowan and Francisco Rosario) signed on former GM Gord Ash's watch.

Snider, a high school outfielder, snapped Toronto's five-year streak of taking a college player with their top pick. He won MVP honors in the Rookie-level Appalachian League, as did Lind in the Double-A Eastern League. Because the Blue Jays gave up their second- and third-round picks in the 2006 draft to sign Burnett and Ryan, they invested $725,000 in 16-year-old Venezuelan third baseman Balbino Fuenmayor after he had an impressive workout at Rogers Centre. They also gave six-figure bonuses to four late-round choices: righthanders Chase Lirette (16th), Kyle Ginley (17th) and Graham Godfrey (34th), plus second baseman Jonathan del Campo (20th).

On the field, the Blue Jays' aggregate minor league winning percentage slipped under .500 for the first time since 2002. Three teams advanced to the playoffs, with Dunedin advancing the furthest, losing in the high Class A Florida State League finals. Toronto announced at season's end that it won't operate an Appy League team in 2007, ending a four-year stint at Pulaski. If the Jays don't add an affiliate in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, they'd be the only organization with just five North American affiliates.

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