TORONTO -- The Blue Jays are heading into the coming season with a rotation filled with question marks. That isn't stopping Mike Maroth from viewing Toronto's situation as one of opportunity -- a chance for him to revive his career by earning a starting role.

Maroth -- two seasons removed from his last walk up a big league mound and returning from left shoulder surgery -- signed a Minor League contract with the Blue Jays on Dec. 30, hoping to prove he can once again provide a durable arm. The left-hander knows he isn't being handed a job with Toronto, but he feels one is within reach with the club.

The Jays, who lost right-hander A.J. Burnett to the Yankees in free agency this winter, have two rotation vacancies and a handful of pitchers vying for the jobs. Various injuries have also left Toronto without right-hander Dustin McGowan until at least May and right-hander Shaun Marcum until next season. For Maroth, the losses created a window of opportunity.

"I threw for quite a few teams in December," Maroth said during a phone interview this week. "It just looked like the best opportunity to come in and make a team was with Toronto. Losing Burnett and a few other guys to injuries, there are some openings. So I'm hoping to be able to come in and make an impact and prove that I'm healthy and pitch and be effective.

"Hopefully, I can earn a spot. With the Jays, there was an opportunity for me to pitch in big league camp and be able to prove that."

The 31-year-old Maroth will first have to prove that he is indeed completely recovered from the left shoulder operation he underwent on May 15. Last season, Maroth's season came to a close after he made just three starts for Triple-A Omaha, an affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. The pitcher said years of wear and tear made the procedure necessary.

"My range of motion was pretty limited," Maroth said. "I just think over time it was getting that way. Flexibility is so important to be able to throw a baseball, and it was causing irritation in my shoulder -- it was causing some problems. Last year, the arm just couldn't take it."

Maroth said the surgery was to repair some fraying of the labrum in his throwing shoulder. The pitcher indicated that the operation was more for cleaning up his shoulder than anything else, adding that there was no structural damage and no stabilizing pins were needed.

"It was just kind going in, looking around and cleaning it up," Maroth said. "I have completely recovered at this point. Basically, I've been throwing [bullpen sessions] and everything to this point, and now I'm just continuing to get ready for the season. I will be ready to go when I come into Spring Training, looking to earn a spot."

Prior to his surgery, Maroth was 0-2 with a 12.91 ERA in just 7 2/3 innings for Omaha. The last time Maroth suited up in the Majors was in 2007, when the left-hander had stints with the Tigers and Cardinals. That year, Maroth finished 5-7 with a 6.89 ERA, bringing his career record to 50-67 with a 5.05 ERA in 161 games.

In six big league seasons, Maroth has logged more than 200 innings twice, with his best season coming in 2005. That year, just two seasons removed from losing 21 games, the lefty won a career-high 14 games for Detroit and posted a 4.74 ERA in 34 starts.

Maroth is hoping he can once again find the kind of form he displayed in 2005, making him a solid candidate for the back end of Toronto's rotation. He knows that a strong staff is needed to compete against the likes of the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays in the American League East -- arguably the toughest division in baseball.

"I've pitched against them all before," Maroth said. "Yeah, they've got great teams, but look at Toronto's staff last year. Obviously, they were able to be effective in the pitching category last year. So you can't be intimidated. Every team has got guys on it who can hit the ball and are able to put up runs.

"It comes down to what you can control, and for me, that's pitching and hitting my spots."