Former Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell has a few decisions to make. After the solid young trio of Ricky Romero, Brandon Morrow and Brett Cecil, a quartet of arms is vying for a role in the rotation.
Perhaps the most intriguing of the bunch is Kyle Drabek, the prize prospect in the Roy Halladay trade two Decembers ago. One day he might lead the rotation as its ace. Currently, he hopes a solid spring is enough to gain the inside track. Drabek is 2-0 with a 3.27 ERA through three starts entering Friday's play.
Jesse Litsch and Mark Rzepcynski, both lefties, made a combined 21 starts for Toronto in 2010 and remain in the mix as well.
Litsch figured to be a fixture in the rotation after going 13-9 with a 3.28 ERA in 2008. He hasn't been able to stay healthy since then, although he did have a nice duel with Daisuke Matsuzaka last July in Toronto.
Rzepcynski, 25, is 6-8 with a 4.32 ERA in 25 games (23 starts) for the Jays. He has made just two starts and two relief appearances so far, so he may be behind the others in getting stretched out.
Jo-Jo Reyes is the long shot of the bunch. A lefty who came up through the Atlanta system, he has pitched pretty well in Grapefruit League play, carrying a 3.46 ERA into Friday's action.
