Toronto has been selected to host first round games of the 2009 WBC! March 5-9, games will go down between Canada, USA, Venezuela and Italy. If I felt like doubling the travel time, I could catch games in Tokyo instead of Toronto, which is also hosting first round action. I would LOVE to be part of a baseball crowd in Japan!

Ouch, this hurts! Newly acquiried Jays 3B Scott Rolen broke his finger in a fielding drill yesterday. He is out indefinitely. Marco Scutaro will fill in for the time being.

It was apparent that Roy Halladay didn't have his stuff in yesterday's 8-0 loss to the Red Sox, but I doubt anyone could have predicted that the cause was acute appendicitis: Halladay latest to join Blue Jays' infirmary. Woe is me, the Jays pitching staff is really falling apart!

Can the Jays really afford to chance it with Jason Frasor?

San Diego fans will simply have to hope that Wells sticks to his new regimen if we hope to see him pitching all the way into October this year. After all, he's had problems with his weight for years, but that didn't make him change his ways. He may not be too far from retirement, but here's hoping David Wells stays healthy this year and beyond, paving the way for a dignified entry into the Hall!

Reports published yesterday indicate that Alfonso Soriano could be headed to the White Sox in a deal that's rumored to include pitcher Brandon McCarthy and LF Scott Podsednik. However, Nationals GM Jim Bowden wouldn't offer any juice about the rumor, and White Sox GM Kenny Williams claimed that trading McCarthy is not an option. Is Williams serious about Soriano, or is this a ploy to try and keep him from becoming a Tiger? Can Bowden get everything he wants when Soriano is considered strictly a 10-week rental by all but one of the teams currently bidding on him?

Meanwhile, a Jays/Rays swap for Julio Lugo is still a distinct possibility. It's unclear if Lugo's injury to his finger will impact his trade value.

Matt LeCroy was DFA'd last Monday, but after not hearing any interest from clubs to acquire the backup catcher, the Nationals released LeCroy on Friday. LeCroy, 30, batted .239 with two home runs and nine RBIs in 39 games in his lone season with the Nationals.

Rookie pitcher Ty Taubenheim was placed on the DL after discovering that the pitcher is suffering to a staph infection like the one that's sidelined Alex Rios for the past couple of weeks. The Jays clubhouse has been disinfected as a precautionary measure. Vinny Chulk will come up from Triple-A to take Ty's spot in the rotation.

The venerable Jays blog, Bluebird Banter, is offering up some speculations regarding this recent turn of events:

With the OF being an area of strength and depth for the Blue Jays, I feel like in the short run, Rios' injury is not going to make much of an impact. Both Frank Catalanotto and Reed Johnson have proven themselves worthy of regular at-bat thus far this season… Defensively, Reed Johnson has proven he is capable on handling RF, he will be just fine. In addition, Eric Hinske might see some more playing time. As much as Blue Jays fans like to rip on Hinske, he has handled his diminishing playing time with class and has produced adequately when asked upon.

In fact, if Hinske does find himself in the line-up more often, I think it will be a great opportunity for him to strut his stuff and improve his trade value. While he has taken well to his diminished role with the Jays this year, the former Rookie of the Year would no doubt prefer to be with a club that will give him regular playing time. Hinske's days in Toronto are numbered. While I've enjoyed watching him as a Blue Jay, I think he needs to move on to revitalize his career. Sieze the day, Eric!

UPDATE: Rios on DL with left leg infection, 07/01/2006 9:08 PM ET