"The burning question after the Jays unveiled a new logo and uniform on Friday is: Can this team contend in the uber-tough AL East in 2012?

Make no mistake about it, this off-season is not about rebuilding on the field or merchandising off it. It's about Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos building an immediate contender. Ideally, after a winter of wheeling and dealing, the Jays' aggressive young GM will hand over the pieces of a championship puzzle to manager John Farrell, but remember there are 29 other GMs thinking the same way, especially with the likely addition of a second wild card for 2012. Luck, injuries, under- and overachievers each play a role over the course of 162 games.

The worst-case scenario for Anthopoulos is that after another non-playoff campaign in 2012, the Jays hang onto the best of this winter's additions, combine them with already identified core players signed to long-term deals and add to that mix the vanguard of a new generation of ready-for-prime-time homegrowns and take another run at it next year."