" Blue Jays president Paul Beeston thinks he has one asset going for him when he and general manager Alex Anthopoulos talk to agents about their free agents.

"All the players love the city," Beeston told the Toronto chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America at a Thursday luncheon.

"They might not like going through customs and immigration, they might not like two tax forms and they might not like the different colours of our money, but they all love the city."

Loving the city is one thing. Loving a chance to win often trumps civic pride.

Neither Beeston or Anthopoulos were discussing specific free agents, but it is known that the Jays brain trust which heads to Dallas and the 110th winter meetings on the weekend, have some certain likes anddislikes. They'd like:

• A closer such as San Diego Padres pitcher Heath Bell, whom the Jays have expressed interest in as have the Miami Marlins and a third 'mystery' team which will either be an actual team or an agent's negotiating ploy.

• Or Cincinnati Reds reliever Francisco Cordero, represented by Bean Stringfellow, the same man who represents Jose Bautista.

• They're not really interested in Prince Fielder, according to people close to the team, or the Japanese posting process where the Jays, or any other club, have to pay millions for the right to talk to right-hander Yu Darvish.

Anthopoulos has three serious holes to fix including second base (Question: if the season started tomorrow who plays second? Answer: "We don't have a second baseman, well, we have Mike McCoy," said Anthopoulos of the versatile utility man). Jays could also use another starting pitcher and a closer."