For the time being, Chacin isn't projected to be in Toronto's rotation. That doesn't mean the Jays won't give Chacin an opportunity to compete for a job during Spring Training, though the chances of him breaking camp with the big league club seem slim.

First, Chacin has to show the Jays that he's recovered from the left shoulder surgery he had in August. Even if he appears to be fine, Toronto may opt to take its time with Chacin, given his injury history. The 27-year-old has had various arm issues, which have limited him to just 22 starts over the past two seasons.

The one thing that Chacin has going in his favor is his record: 25-15 in 58 career starts. The left-hander hasn't always been the most effective pitcher, but he's found a way to win. Over the past two years -- when he wasn't battling elbow, shoulder or forearm woes -- Chacin went 11-5, despite a 5.18 ERA.

When the Jays arrive in Florida for Spring Training, right-handers Jesse Litsch and Casey Janssen, along with any potential free-agent acquisitions, will probably be the leading candidates for the fifth rotation spot. Chacin will be in the mix, but a handful of younger pitchers have climbed passed the Venezuelan on Toronto's depth chart.

With Chacin on the outside looking in, the Jays will probably have five right-handed starters. One lefty to monitor in the Minors is David Purcey, who has been on a slow course since being picked up in the first round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft. Purcey will likely head to Triple-A Syracuse to start '08.

If there are any injuries at the big league level -- a theme over the past few years for the Jays -- Purcey may be in the running for his first promotion to Toronto. His 2007 campaign at Double-A was marred by an elbow injury, but he was stellar in the Arizona Fall League. In six AFL starts, Purcey posted a 1.23 ERA with 25 strikeouts, nine walks and 13 hits allowed over 22 innings.

Regarding reliever Brandon League, what's his situation for the 2008 season? The guy has an impressive arm.
-- Ron H., Winnipeg, Manitoba

When asked about League at the end of this past season, general manager J.P. Ricciardi said, "I talked to him before he left, and I told him, 'If you want to be on this team next year, you have to make this team.'" That basically sums up League's situation. He is hardly a lock to be back in Toronto's bullpen.

The Jays had high hopes for League going into 2007, when the right-hander was slated to be the club's setup man. Various arm issues significantly reduced the velocity of League's once-overpowering fastball, though, and he landed on the disabled list and spent much of the year trying to figure out what went wrong.

Now, the setup job will likely fall to right-hander Jeremy Accardo when closer B.J. Ryan returns from the DL. Behind Accardo, Scott Downs, Brian Wolfe and even Janssen have moved ahead of League for late-inning bullpen jobs. Come Spring Training, League will have to show strong improvement to be considered for a relief job to start the '08 season.

Have a question about the Blue Jays? E-mail your query to MLB.com Blue Jays beat reporter Jordan Bastian for possible inclusion in a future Inbox column. Letters may be edited for brevity, length and/or content. First Name, Last Initial: Hometown: Email Address: Question:

The 24-year-old League understands the reality of his situation, too. He moved his offseason home from Hawaii to Florida this winter in order to be closer to Toronto's training facilities and medical staff. If League does earn a spot in the Jays' bullpen, it probably won't be as the setup man right away.

I was just wondering how last year's first-round Draft picks fared in their first year of professional baseball and how they may fit in future roles with the Jays.
-- Darren K., Toronto

Kevin Ahrens, who Toronto picked up with the 16th overall pick in June's Draft, spent the 2007 season with the Gulf Coast League Blue Jays at the rookie level. In 48 games, the 18-year-old Ahrens hit .230 with three home runs and 21 RBIs.

Ahrens started off slow, hitting just .130 in his first 31 at-bats, but he picked up the pace as he gained more experience. Over the season's final month, the switch-hitter hit at a .262 clip with two homers, 12 RBIs and 11 walks in 19 games. Hitting from the right side, Ahrens touched left-handed pitchers for a .302 average.

The Jays took Ahrens out of high school, so they aren't going to rush him up the organizational ladder. He was drafted as a shortstop and spent some time at that position this year, but Ahrens projects more as a third baseman. He played more innings at third this past season, too.

Catcher J.P. Arencibia, who was drafted 21st overall, hit .254 with three homers and 25 RBIs in 63 games for Class A Auburn. Arencibia, 21, suffered a banged up wrist, which hindered his power production, and he threw out nearly 34 percent of base stealers. In a best-case scenario, Arencibia would be nearing a call to the Jays by 2010-11.

With Matt Clement being available as a free agent, do you think that the Jays are interested in signing him to an incentive-laden deal? He could push Litsch and Chacin for the final starting rotation spot.
-- Wallace C., Richmond Hill, Ontario

As far as adding pitching depth, Ricciardi said as recently as Sunday that the club may look into some "reclamation projects," and he noted that Clement certainly fits that mold. The 33-year-old right-hander hasn't started a game in the Majors since June 14, 2006, but he should be ready to take the mound again this season.

Clement had arthroscopic surgery, which was performed by arm specialist Dr. James Andrews, to repair his right rotator cuff and labrum in September 2006. The recovery period for such a procedure is usually at least a year, and Clement, who has won 10-plus games five times in nine big league seasons, began pitching off a mound again this past September with Boston.

If Toronto does add any pitchers to the competition for the fifth rotation spot, it might be someone such as Clement -- a pitcher who would probably agree to a Minor League contract. The Jays are content with their current staff, but adding depth with some veterans at the Triple-A level wouldn't hurt.

Why did the Jays release John-Ford Griffin? He wasn't given much of a chance with the Major League team and seemed to have pretty good numbers.
-- Jim R., Vineland, Ontario

Basically, it got a point where there was no room at the inn. Griffin, 27, spent the past three years at Triple-A and there was no spot for him with the Jays for the forseeable future. Adam Lind projects to be in a regular outfield role with Toronto by 2009, Matt Stairs is signed for two more years and Alex Rios and Vernon Wells aren't going anywhere.

Griffin performed well in the Minors offensively, but his defense was lacking. There are also a handful of outfield prospects behind him rising fast for the Jays. So, cutting ties with Griffin opens a spot on the Triple-A roster for someone such as Ryan Patterson. The move may actually benefit Griffin, who could find a better situation with another club.