no doubt this team is stuck in the middle.
imo, Rogers is fine with a treadmill team that is competing for a playoff spot or of course, a playoff team.
what they couldn't have is the perception this team really can't compete ie. teams of previous years ie. we all had hopes and dreams the jays would finally make the playoffs but knew from game 1 of the season it wasn't gonna happen...say what we will, the perception is imo, that when healthy, this team can contend...
but Rogers being Rogers, this team cannot and will not be blown up short of another epic disaster ie. if they falter hard before the deadline or are a few games back but choke hard and fall X # of games back by the end of the season...
so treadmill it is & selling hope, albeit a bit more hope than in previous seasons - this team overall has a lot more overall talent & than previous years...
on a treadmill, AA is understandably loathe to give up top prospects...so imo if he makes a move, it will be by giving up lower tier prospects...the catch in all this imo is whether Rogers will allow AA to take on salary...if not, AA's hands are tied imo...
with all that said, this team still has talent & if they can fight through and stay close until the injured guys get back, anything can happen...that's more hope to sell now than in a long long time...
two other points: another post made a good point - if the jays make the playoffs (especially if they win the division & get atleast a full round in), Rogers may be forced to spend more. Second, AA should not touch the pitching prospects - the poster above imo made a good point - the rotation could be good/deep for years to come & once Dickey/Buehrle are gone, relatively cheap...