The reason the Jays have not discussed a long-term deal with DH/1B Edwin Encarnacion as of yet is his history of injuries. They would like to see the 29-year-old, who surely desires to see his career develop like Jose Bautista’s, finish the season healthy and on fire. The Jays need to see a full season of Edwin numbers in his prime, to see if this is indeed the reincarnation of their main man, Bautista, whose once-dormant career blossomed at a similar age and in a similar environment.

In fact, why should the Jays ever negotiate with Encarnacion right now? Under the new rules, if they wait until the end of the season and make a qualifying offer of one year and $12 million, then that is all it would take to ensure draft-pick compensation in the form of an extra selection or two in the June 2013 draft, if Edwin chose to take his talents elsewhere. And we know how much GM Alex Anthopoulos loves to backstop any moves with free-agent compensation. In fact, he’s addicted.

The other thing is that, given the respect and the relationship that Encarnacion and Bautista have and given that Joey Bats is committed to the Jays for three more seasons (at least contractually), there is not a home-town discount, but a knowledge by Encarnacion that the Bautista contract is the upper-limit of anything he can hope for from the Jays. They will not have Edwin earn more than Jose which is $65 million guaranteed for five years, plus an option. But the Jays have to convince both Bautista and Encarnacion that the future of contending is in 2013 and beyond, not 2014.

If the Jays were to trade Encarnacion on an expiring contract, what would they get in return? Certainly nothing that would help them in 2013 and the fact is that they have prospects at the major positions already coming through the pipe, including catcher, outfield, shortstop and starting pitcher. Bautista is a mainstay, the third baseman is 22-years-old and a future all-star and Colby Rasmus is becoming what they thought they were trading for. So what would they get for Encarnacion? In fact they would probably have to pay most of his remaining salary.

No, the answer is to keep him and see what develops in the rotation the final 81 games. Negotiate with Encarnacion in the off-season, making the necessary qualifying offer to protect your back. The Top 4 of the Jays batting order has been magic since Brett Lawrie and Rasmus have moved up and Edwin has been installed fulltime in the cleanup spot. It’s pundits south of the border that talk about the Jays being sellers at the deadline. There is not an economic need, nor a need to acquire someone else’s mid-range prospects. Anthopoulos should, and likely will, stay the course. If you trade, add the one mid-rotation young veteran pitcher that will be a part of the future moving to 2013.

SPORTSNET HAS NO RESPECT FOR ITS OWN SPORTS PROPERTY

The fact that the Blue Jays are owned by the Rogers corporation makes it unbelievably short-sighted that Sportsnet had no room on any of its stations to carry the live 1 p.m. Sunday telecast of the All-Star Game selection announcement, that had their star property OF Jose Bautista being named to the AL’s starting lineup on July 10 in Kansas City. Absolutely crazy.

Instead it was a panel of Nick Kypreos, Doug MacLean and that other guy discussing the opening few hours of NHL Free Agency. Both all-sports networks have been discussing free agency incessantly for weeks leading up to the date and before NHL GMs even had a chance to contact players, the panel was predicting where players would land. This couldn’t have gone earlier in the day or couldn’t have waited until 2 p.m. before the baseball pre-game started at 2:30 p.m.?

And what about Sportsnet One? I tried them and they had eight-man rowing between 1-1:30 p.m. (Are they out of their scull?) and a replay of a This Week in Baseball Show featuring a player poll about stuff like most hustle, dirtiest uniform, snappiest dresser, etc. (Poll this, Sportsnet One).

Some people suggest it was all about ratings. You have got to be kidding. Does anyone think the ratings to see MacLean lament the loss of the Monster on a Sunday afternoon, Canada Day to boot, is going to have any ratings, either way. But at least carrying the ASG selection that was being produced in its entirety by the TBS network in the States, shows respect for your own sports property.

This diss towards baseball shows a different side to Rogers ownership. There were some that believed the co-purchase of the Leafs by Rogers would have no effect on the interest that the mother corp would put into trying to build the Jays into a winner. That the money would still be there and they would still treat the baseball property with the respect it deserves. GM Alex Anthopoulos talked about “parameters” in the days before the Leafs purchase was announced. Benign neglect could follow.

And don’t try to tell me that Rogers didn’t have the rights to the TBS show. On the MLB.com morning promo online it listed the countries that the selection show was being televised to and included Rogers Sportsnet as the carrier in Canada. Besides, if they hadn’t acquired those precise rights in time, it was because they didn’t want to. Hey, Jose Bautista. Apparently you don’t matter to Rogers.

JAYS UPDATED JUNE DRAFT RECAP WITH CHASE DeJONG

With Sunday’s announced signing of the Jays’ own second round selection, overall pick No. 81, RHPChase DeJong out of Wilson High School, in Long Beach, CA for $860,000 (according to Baseball America), compared to a slot value of $620,3000, the club now has a very solid chance to sign all 14 of its picks within the first 10 rounds. The deadline is July 13.

The only unsigned player is compensation pick, No. 22 overall, RHP Marcus Stroman. The Duke University star has a $1.8 million assigned slot value. The Jays insist they will be offering slot money, but the reality is that they may have to go slightly above to sign the Blue Devil, Team USA star.

Stroman, the 5-9, 180 lbs. Right-hander has a tough decision if he chooses to snub the Jays. He can go back to Duke for his senior year, but next June in the 2013 draft, he would have no more leverage, maybe less, and would butt heads with the same slotting system that isn’t going away anytime soon. Would he be drafted any higher in ’13 and is that money difference significant? Why not get his MLB timeline moving towards what many experts predict could be a fast-track to the majors as a Jays’ bullpen specialist. It’s all about slot money and the Jays are doing it their way. It’s hardball!

The reality is that the Jays would rather sacrifice signing Stroman than overpay to the point of being penalized a draft pick in June 2013. That they swear they will not do. They can now afford up to $2,141,339, but there is a caveat in looking at that raw number, since the amount over Stroman’s $1.8 million slot also includes any other overpayment penalties over $100,000 per man in Rounds 11-40.

There are options for the ballclub. If the Jays fail to sign their man, they would get a similar pick as compensation in next year’s draft — even though it is the same pick they received as compensation for not signing RHP Tyler Beede the year before. The new CBA rules allow for the same compensation to carry over a maximum of two years if unsigned, meaning the Jays would have No. 22 again in 2013, but they would lose credit for the $1.8 million Stroman slot this year. That failure would also cost them a hit of $90,000 on the 5-percent fineable money they can go over without losing a future draft selection. There is less than two weeks remaining.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the Jays’ numbers, thus far. Arbitrarily assigned by MLB for 14 picks in the first 10 rounds, the Jays’ slot total was $8,830,800. If any club overpays by 5 per cent or more of their amount, it is fined a significant percentage of the over, plus it loses a future draft pick.

Thus far in the first 10 rounds, the over-under dollar total between the four guys that they overpaid and the 10 prospects they underpaid, gave GM Alex Anthopoulos a negative slot balance of minus-$100,200, but since they are willing to go over by the maximum allowable 4.999 per cent, that amount of allowable over — which started at $441,539 — then they still have wiggle-room with Stroman.

Stroman may look at the landscape and see that others in his draft proximity have already fallen into line. There were fellow right-handers selected 20th and 21st overall, just ahead of Stroman. The Braves signed Lucas Sims for $1.65 million. The Giants signed Chris Matton for $1.85 million.

All dollar figures are according to the fabulous Baseball America draft database. The Jays have now signed 24 of their 44 picks in the first year of the new CBA. The clock is ticking.

The International signing period begins on July 2 and ESPN-Desportes ace reporter Enrique Rojas suggests the Jays have the inside track on coveted Venezuelan SS Franklin Barreto, who compares to a young Rafael Furcal. Under the new CBA, teams have just $2.9 million in total signing bonuses for international free agents, but in 2012-13 may sign a half dozen extra at $50,000 or less. Rojas suggests there are 2,700 Caribbean prospects available, more than half from the Dominican.

MLB POWER RANKINGS (last week’s rank in brackets)

1. Texas Rangers (2)

Rangers have more starting pitching hurt than Jays, now have Oswalt

2. New York Yankees (1)

Yankees lost CC and Pettitte but have finances to go out and fill in if needed

3. San Francisco Giants (12)

Giants starting pitching now pitching like Giants SP should be pitching

4. Washington Nationals (5)

Harper just a kid and it’s a long, hot summer. Harp and Stras are likely to fade.

At some point the loyal fans of Wrigleyville will realize teams stinks

JAYS WEEK . . . 6/25-7/1/12

It seems like every week becomes a new “crossroads” for the Jays. Maybe blues legend Robert Johnson should be named AGM. That feeling will remain so as long as the Jays continue to proceed with a rotation that is built on a “wounded wing and a bended knee”.

It seems after a second solid outing by LHP Aaron Laffey that he will remain in the mix for the short term, unless, that is, the Jays decide to call upon LHP Jamie Moyer who started with a five-inning, three-run victory in his 51s (not his age) debut on Friday and has one more start in a brief two-game trial at AAA-Las Vegas. I can’t see the Jays not giving him at least a couple of games in the major league rotation, maybe moving the overmatched RHP Jesse Chavez back to Vegas and having Laffey, at least for the length of Moyer’s presence, pitch in long relief. Canadian RHP Shawn Hill is also a newcomer at Vegas with a chance to contribute.

The other guy already on the staff that is a solid pro and one of the leaders of the young Latin pitchers, is Carlos Villanueva. The 28-year-old righthander is the easiest to manage pitcher on the staff, needing no hand-holding or cajoling from coaches in terms of a role. He will start games if they need him and pitch out of the pen if they need him, with no advance notice of change required.

“I take a lot of pride in the fact that I’ve always taken the ball whenever they want me to,” Villanueva said recently. “If you want me to throw four innings, five innings, one inning, five days in a row, I’ve always been that guy.”

Carrying an extra 35 pounds last year, he was forced into the rotation in June and broke down in August. He had never been on the DL before and was not pleased with himself.

“I felt like I was letting everybody down on the team,” Villanueva said. “Even though they understood, I understood, I only threw 50 innings the year prior to that, but I didn’t look at it that way. I just kicked myself and said I should have prepared better. When this off-season came, the first thing I did was say, you know what, have a starter’s mentality and whatever happens, you work your way backwards instead of having to gain stamina and arm strength.”

The Jays continued to hang in this week, despite predictions of imminent collapse.

The revamped rotation is still getting its feet wet. The quintet averaged just 5-1/3 innings per start in the seven games, with just Laffey (twice) and Henderson (Lazarus) Alvarez managing to post “quality starts”. Laffey allowed just two earned runs in his 12 innings (1.50 ERA).

Alvarez gave the Jays a scare on Tuesday at Fenway Park. The 22-year-old called for the trainer after his 95th pitch, a scene the club had seen three times already since June 11 with Brandon Morrow, Kyle Drabek and Drew Hutchison. But Alvarez, who felt something in his right elbow, flew to Florida for an MRI, was cleared and made his next start, beating the Angels on Saturday. Amazing.

As for the new Fab Four at the top of the Jays’ lineup, Brett Lawrie, Colby Rasmus, Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion continued to key the offence, combining for 33 hits and a .292 average in the seven games, with 26 runs and 25 RBIs. In the three victories, the top four in the order scored 15 and drove in 12 runs. They have stepped up to help the struggling pitching.

Injuries: The worst news for the Jays is that closer RHPSergio Santos, beset by new aches and pains in and around his right shoulder every time he starts up a rehab throwing program, may be done for the year. In addition, RHP Jesse Litsch had an additional surgery and told the FAN 590 in a phone interview that he feels his career may be over. RHP Brandon Morrow is coming along well, feeling no more pain in his left oblique as he strives to return some time after the all-star break.

AL ROUNDUP

It’s well known rock star Prince’s favourite colour is purple, however Rays RHP Jeremy Helllickson did not appreciate the irony when Detroit’s Prince (Fielder) lined a ball off his right shin on Sunday, leaving it purple and bruised. It was the Rays’ rookie-of-the-year’s first start back off the DL . . . Guess whose quote this is: “I’m hoping we’re not big players at the trade deadline. Hopefully we get healthy and we stay healthy, but you have to be prepared and you have to stay flexible.” It could be any of a half dozen GMs, including the Jays’ Alex Anthopoulos, but it was uttered by GM Jon Daniels of the Rangers on his approach to the trade deadline . . . What a move by the Twins when they selected Guelph, Ont. native, LHP Scott Diamond from the Atlanta Braves in the Rule 5 draft prior to the ’11 season, then made a minor deal to keep him in the organization. Diamond was called up this year by the Twins on May 7 and has gone 7-3, with a 2.63 ERA. Other notable Rule 5 steals through the years include George Bell (Jays), Bobby Bonilla (White Sox), Johan Santana (Twins) and Manuel Lee (Jays) . . . on the weekend, Yankee SS Derek Jeter passed Cal Ripken Jr. with hit No. 3,185. Realistically, Jeter would have to play five more healthy seasons at a peak level to reach 4,000 hits. Not likely, unless he changes positions . . . White Sox C A.J. Pierzynski is realistic about his status as one of the most despised players among fellow players and understands why he was not included on the All-Star team. On Sunday, he lined a ball into the Yankee dugout, hitting Raul Ibanez in the mouth, splitting his lip and chipping a tooth. That’s one vote A.J. won’t be getting next year, either. “We need a bubble in the dugout,” quipped Yankee skipper Joe Girardi... One of the enigmas among young pitchers is Orioles LHP Brian Matusz. At times he has looked like an up and coming star, but on Sunday vs. the Indians he was cuffed around for five runs in four innings and optioned again to AAA-Norfolk . . . There were plenty of players that had cases for all-star inclusion, including former Jays’ OF Alex Rios of the Chisox. “If I can help the team win and get to where we want go, that’s going to be my All-Star. I’ve never been to the playoffs before, and I would enjoy that so much”. . . Rangers’ MGR Ron Washington surely has a method to his madness. He did not choose Japanese sensation RHP Yu Darvish to the all-star squad, going instead with LHP Matt Harrison as one of his choices, along with CL Joe Nathan. What could be his thinking? Could it be the fact that Darvish is now one of five last-chance candidates on an online poll and, face it, who has more computers with which to cast ballots than Japan? Shrewd . . . Nobody has really talked about 3B Miguel Cabrera’s season because of the Tigers’ struggles. But on Sunday, Miggy joined legends Hank Greenberg, Al Kaline, Norm Cash, Willie Horton and Magglio Ordonez as Tiger players with 100 hits, 15 homers and 60 RBIs prior to the all-star break. Cabrera also did it in 2010 . . . Hard to believe, but CL Chris Perez became the first Indians relief pitcher to make an all-star team since Jose Mesa in 1996 . . . Also for the Tribe, 3B Lonnie Chisenhall was hit by a LH Troy Patton fastball and his broken arm is expected to keep him out for 10-12 weeks . . . Bad news for me, Indians’ 3B Jose Lopez smacked out five hits on Saturday, after I dropped him from my Fantasy team in the morning. D-ohh! . . . Sarcasm can be very funny, as per Tribe RHP Derek Lowe who was asked about a C Matt Wieters homer in Baltimore, whether he felt it was gone: “When it hit the warehouse, I was pretty sure it wasn’t coming back” . . . A change of venue and an opportunity to start has done OF Josh Reddick a world of good in Oakland . . . acquired for CL Andrew Bailey, Reddick is the first A’s player with 18 or more homers prior to July 1 since OF Nick Swisher in ’03 . . . in a Pacific Rim matchup on the weekend, A’s Australian RH Travis Blackley bested Rangers’ Japanese RH Yu Darvish 3-1, with both men working seven solid innings. Down Under bests Rising Sun.

NL ROUNDUP

On Saturday, after taking a flight from Tucson to join the Padres in Denver, rookie C Yasmani Grandal made his debut and homered in each of his first two at-bats – once from each side of the plate. According to Elias Sports Bureau, this had never been done in a MLB debut. The last rookie to homer twice in his debut was Jays’ C J.P. Arencibia on August 7, 2010 vs. the Rays. Maybe there’s something in 2012 about flying from Tucson and then “home runs.” Grandal flew fromTucson and hit a couple bombs. RH Joel Carreno flew from Tucson to join the Jays in Milwaukee and gave up three big flies. Grandal was acquired from the Reds for RHP Mat Latos, along with 1B Yonder Alonso and RHP Johnny Cueto. All three were in Saturday’s lineup . . . Dodgers’ SS Dee Gordon has a chance for a 30-30 season. That is 30 stolen bases and 30 errors. On Sunday, the dynamic young infielder ran his error total to 17 with a pair of miscues and his steal total to 28 with three thefts. The Dodgers scored eight runs against the Mets, tying their run total for the previous eight games, combined . . . Former Jays’ 2B Aaron Hill on Friday hit for the cycle for the second time in 12 days, becoming only the second player on MLB history to do it twice in a year. “A cycle is one of those crazy things and to do it twice in (12) days — that’s crazy” summarized Brewers’ LHP Randy Wolf, who gave up three of those hits. The first player to do it was Babe Herman for the Dodgers in 1931. Hill has bounced back to his form of alternate years, hitting .300, with 11 homers and 38 RBIs. He is on the “last-chance” NL all-star ballot but is not favoured over a strong field that includes 3B Chipper Jones who is trying to play a game at Kauffman Stadium, the only MLB park in which he has never played. I wonder if Chipper will like K.C. In July any better than Toronto in February for the WBC in ’09 . . . MLB fans have obviously not completely forgiven Brewers’ LF Ryan Braun for his failed and then overturned drug test from this past off-season. The fans failed to vote him onto the NL All-Star starting lineup, although the players had him listed in their Top 3, assuring the defending NL MVP a spot in the game. Braun has 22 homers, 55 RBIs and a .991 OPS. He has been to six straight all-star games. Left off the team however was Brewers RHP Zack Greinke, despite a solid 9-2 record. MGR Tony LaRussa said the determining factor was his rotation spot being July 8 for his final start. It’s actually July 7, which would make the game on his throw day. Perfect. Thanks Tony. Don’t expect Greinke to approve any trade to the Cardinals . . . Astros’ diminutive, 5-4 2B Jose Altuve became just the ninth player to come from the Futures Game on All-Star weekend one year to the big game the following season. And what on earth could 1B Carlos Lee be thinking turning down a trade to go from the Astros to the Dodgers, with a chance to help lead the offence back to the post-season. This is not quite like the Carlos Delgado situation, because the Jays weren’t as bad as the Astros and Lee is not a homegrown, lifelong Astro as Carlos was with the Jays . . . What was he thinking II: Earlier in the week, 1B Jim Thome agreed to be traded from the Phillies to the Orioles so he could be with a contender. Say what?? The true fact may be that with 1B Ryan Howard in the minors on a rehab option, the ABs for Thome would have dried up in a hurry. In any case, Camden Yards is a good park for Thome to finish his career in as full-time DH . . . Canadian Clinic: On Sunday, Reds 1B Joey Votto sat out for the second time this season with inflammation in his left knee that was aggravated in a slide at third base. On the weekend Cubs’ RHP Ryan Dempster threw from a mound on the way back to the hill at Wrigley. He has been on the DL with a strained lat muscle and is expected back after the all-star break.

THIS WEEK IN BASEBALL HISTORY:

7/2/63 Willie Mays of the Giants homers off Warren Spahn of the Braves with one out in the 16th inning at Candlestick for the longest 1-0 victory to that point. The most amazing thing is that it was a complete-game for both Juan Marichal and Spahn . . . 7/2/86 Roger Clemens gives up three runs in the eighth to lose 4-3 to the Jays breaking his season-opening 14-game win streak, within one of the AL record . . . 7/3/12 Giants lefty Rube Marquard wins his 19th straight decision from the start of a season, 2-1 over the Dodgers. It was his 21st straight overall, a major-league record . . . 7/3/66 The Braves’ starting pitcher Tony Cloninger hits two grand slams in the same game at Candlestick Park. Teammate Felipe Alou was asked years ago to choose his more exciting personal memory that day – Cloninger’s two slams or birth of his son Moises back in Atlanta, which he missed cuz he was on the road. Ah, those were the days . . . 7/3/74 Dodgers reliever Mike Marshall pitches in a 13th straight game, saving a 4-1 victory for Tommy John. Coincidentally, Marshall despite his ironman relief efforts, never needed Tommy John surgery . . . 7/4/39Lou Gehrig became the first player to have his uniform number retired and delivered his famous “luckiest man on the face of the earth” speech. He died of ALS two years later . . . 7/4/85 The Braves started their Independence Day fireworks at 4:01 a.m. — technically on the 5th —following a six hour and 10 minute, 19-inning game against the Mets featuring two rain delays, a 16-13 loss. Nearby residents believed Atlanta was being invaded. Pity . . . 7/5/47Larry Doby became the first African-American in the modern era to play in the AL, pinch-hitting for the Cleveland Indians. Jackie Robinson had debuted in the NL for the Dodgers in April of tha year.

AAA-Las Vegas (47-36) lost to Reno 8-6 on Sunday. LF Travis Snider was 1-for-5 and is hitting .325 with eight homers and 42 RBIs in 41 games. DH Eric Thames was 3-for-4 and bumped his average to .321. SS Adeiny Hechavarria is leading the team with 54 RBIs. In the past two weeks Canadian RHP Shawn Hill and geriatric LHP Jamie Moyer have joined the list of candidates for future Jays starters. Hechavarria and reliever Chad Beck were named to the PCL all-star game . . . AA-New Hampshire (31-49) beat Reading 7-5 on Sunday. RHP John Stilson (2-1) was the starter and winner. 3B Mark Sobolewski was 2-for-4 with a homer and is batting .261. Sobolewski, 1B Mike McDade, SS Ryan Goins, RHP Sam Dyson and RHPYohan Pino (4-3, 3.34 ERA) were named to the Eastern League all-star game . . . A-Dunedin (3-8) lost 2-1 to Tampa. RHP Casey Lawrence (4-3, 3.64 ERA) went six innings with no decision. SS Kevin Nolan was 3-for-5 and is batting .316 with 12 steals. C Koby Clemens was 3-for-3 and is hitting .280. RHP John Stilson is 3-0, 2.82 ERA. LHP Sean Nolin is 7-0, 2.35 ERA . . . A-Lansing (4-5) beat South Bend 6-1 on Sunday. RH Aaron Sanchez pitched 5 shutout innings for the win. He is 7-0 with a 0.63 ERA. LF Kevin Pillar was 2-for-5 with 2 RBIs and is batting .318 with 30 steals. LH Justin Nicolino is 3-1, with a 1.74 ERA. The ’Nuts have 128 team steals... A-Vancouver (10-5) played at a sold-out Nat Bailey Stadium on Sunday with Thunder Bay native RHP Eric Brown starting. 3B Balbino Fuenmayor is hitting .400 with three homers and 18 RBIs. Mississauga native CF Dalton Pompey is hitting .294 with 3 SB. RHP Taylor Cole is 1-1, with a 0.82 ERA . . . A-Bluefield (5-8) lost to Pulaski 4-3. RH Kevin Comer (1-1, 2.25 ERA) was the starter with no decision. OF Carlos Ramirez is batting .300 with a homer and six RBIs . . . Rk-Blue Jays (2-8) of the Gulf Coast League were off on Sunday. OF Anthony Alford the Jays’ third round pick committed to play QB at Southern Miss, reported, played five games, hit his first pro home run and went home to get ready for the football season.

ONE FOR THE ROAD :

The outdoor Canada Day festival at the Rogers Centre was a great idea.

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