TORONTO -- Toronto Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos said Thursday that hes confident hell have financial flexibility should he need it later in the season. [url=http://www.custompatriotsjersey.com/custom-steve-bono-jersey-large- 1691f.html]Steve Bono Jersey[/url] . Anthopoulos, who held a m

TORONTO -- Toronto Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos said Thursday that hes confident hell have financial flexibility should he need it later in the season. Steve Bono Jersey . Anthopoulos, who held a media availability before his team opened a four-game series against Kansas City, was asked about an online report by columnist Peter Gammons that quoted him saying the team is "pretty much maxed out" in terms of payroll. "Were at our number to start the year," Anthopoulos explained to reporters. "Thats fair so I dont think it varies from anything else weve ever said." The Blue Jays, who have a payroll of about US$135 million, dont have a locked-in salary ceiling. If a situation presented itself, it appears there would be room to heighten it if needed. Toronto has been one of the surprises of the American League this season, rising to the top of the East division and taking a nine-game winning streak into Thursdays game. Talk of potential upgrades and loading up for a post-season run is already underway in the playoff-starved city even though the season is barely one-third old. Anthopoulos said while its still quite early, he does not expect to be hamstrung when it comes to finances. "I have every confidence that if we have a need come the trade deadline, which is obviously late July, I have every confidence that well have the resources to do that," Anthopoulos said. "I dont have any doubts about that at all." The teams purse strings were in the news last April when reports surfaced that some Toronto players discussed deferring portions of their salary to help land Ervin Santana. The free agent pitcher ended up signing with Atlanta for the same one-year US$14-million deal offered by the Jays. But Anthopoulos stressed that if something came up in the next month or two, he feels the team could take on salary if required. "We may need to be creative, we may need to do some things," he said. "But weve been able to add payroll when needed." One potential upgrade area is the starting rotation, which has improved significantly this season despite Brandon Morrow going on the 60-day disabled list and a variety of pitchers handling the No. 5 spot. Anthopoulos gave credit to his starters and said their performance will be key going forward. "I know the offence has been great, were hitting home runs and all that, its fun to watch," he said. "But we will go as far as the rotation will bring us, there is no doubt about that." The Blue Jays could get an in-house upgrade if Morrow is able to return to form. "Well have more of a report by the end of June," Anthopoulos said. "Hes going to be back around the all-star break and by late June, he should be going out on a rehab assignment. So I think it could actually time well." For now, Anthopoulos is focusing on preparations for next weeks draft. He expects GMs to pick up trade discussions once the selection process is complete. "Were not having any active talks at all," Anthopoulos said. "Were really immersed in the draft right now. But I do expect once that draft is over and we get to the Monday after the draft, I think thats when everyone is going to start making the calls again." The teams play over the next month will determine the GMs next move. But again, Anthopoulos doesnt believe money will be an issue. "I think if were in a good position at the beginning of July, well know the landscape a little bit more with what our needs are," he said. "I have every confidence in the world that I can have that conversation with (president) Paul (Beeston), and Paul has that conversation with ownership. "But one, we need to be playing well at that time and were still very far away from that (date)." Mike Wilson Jersey . Right-hander Todd Redmond took the loss. Jose Bautista hit his second home run of the spring. Here are a handful of tidbits from around camp: Hutchison impressive The Blue Jays are being cautious when talking about their young arms but internally, excitement is building over the way Drew Hutchison is looking and performing this spring. Trent Dilfer Jersey . The Mercedes duo of three-time Canadian Grand Prix champion Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg has won all six races to start the season, finishing one-two in the last five. http://www.custompatriotsjersey.com/custom-randy-moss-jersey-large-261f.html . The former world No. 1 Djokovic, who is the top seed here despite being ranked No. 2, snuck past 35-year-old Czech showman Radek Stepanek in four high- quality sets, 6-4, 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-5), on Centre Court. Djokovic appeared relieved when he converted on his first match point by swatting a cross-court forehand winner that just caught the line to end an affair that featured only two service breaks.ABBOTSFORD, B.C. -- Benn Ferrieros familiar with scoring important goals, just not in back-to-back games. Ferriero scored the overtime goal for the second-straight night to lift the Utica Comets to a 4-3 win over the Abbotsford Heat in American Hockey League action Saturday. "Ive never scored two in a row like that, but Ive scored a couple OT winners in my career in college and pro," said Ferriero. "It feels good to help the team like that." Ferriero took advantage of Chris Breens broken stick at the Abbotsford blue-line, burst past the lone defender and buried a slap shot top corner on goalie Joey MacDonald. "They had a good rush going there but they got a little unlucky when (Breen) broke his stick," said Ferriero. "I saw there was the one D man that I thought I could catch. (Yann) Sauve made a great pass to me. Im pretty happy about that one." The 26-year-old right-winger is red-hot. Besides also scoring the only goal in Fridays 1-0 win against the Heat, he has five goals in as many games and 10 points during an eight-game point streak. After signing with the Vancouver Canucks in the summer, hes played just two games for the Comets NHL affiliate. Even though Abbotsford is in the Canucks backyard -- just an hour east -- he thinks his consistency will be what gets him back the sports top level. "Youve got (their presence) in the back of your head, but you cant control anything, except how you play out there," said Ferriero, who has 31 points in 39 games this season. "This year Im really trying to work on consistency and bringing it every single night." Alex Grenier scored twice for the Comets, but like Ferriero, he says he doesnt like to dwell on that either. "Maybe a little, its a bit different, but youve got to concentrate and play your game," said Grenier, Vancouvers 2011 third-round choice. "Theyre not looking for guys who are better here than anywhere else. We just give it everything and hope its enough." Brandon DeFazio had the other Comets goal, while Pascal Pelletier had two assists for Utica (15-20-5), which has won four straight. "It was a real tight game, tight-checking, feisty," said Ferriero. "We knew coming in, since we beat them a couple times in a row. Thhey pushed back and responded from the beginning. Monty Stickles Jersey. ." Joacim Eriksson made 23 saves in the win. Max Reinhart and Markus Granlund each had a goal and an assist for Abbotsford (26-14-4) and Brett Olson also scored. MacDonald made 35 saves in the losing effort, though his coach says he doesnt blame him for the overtime goal. "The game-winning goal was a great goal," said Heat head coach Troy Ward. "That would have gone in in the NHL. That was a goal-scorers goal. He had one intent, and that was to shoot it as hard as he could. He did that, and I give that guy a lot of credit." The Comets opened the scoring 2:05 into the game. After a lively dump into the Abbotsford zone, Jordan Schroeder chipped the puck to the front of the net where DeFazio swept it past MacDonald with a backhander for his fifth of the season. Granlund, however, evened the score with a power-play goal at 7:42. He took a feed from Reinhart and beat Eriksson with a wrist shot glove side for his 17th of the year. Despite failing to score on a two-man advantage earlier in the second period, the Comets regained the lead at 7:51. Pelletier chipped the puck in front, where Grenier turned and quickly beat MacDonald blocker side for his 14th of the season. "Pelletier made really nice plays to me," said Grenier, "I was fortunate to be there but Pascal made all the plays there." The Heat drew even at 10:52 while killing a penalty for too many men. Granlund fanned on his shot attempt on a two-on-two rush, but Reinhart redirected the puck past the Comets netminder for his ninth of the season. Olson scored at 7:18 to give the Heat their first lead of the night. Olsons forecheck pressured Yann Sauve into coughing up the puck at the face-off dot. Olson pounced, walked in on Eriksson and went short side for his seventh of the year and his first point in 14 games. The Comets, however, evened the score at 11:13. Pelletier forced John Ramage to give it up behind the net and Grenier was there to bury his second of the game. Then, at 1:10 of overtime Ferriero netted the winner. "That was an unbelievable shot, one of the best Ive ever seen," said Grenier. "Im really happy for Benny. Hes been one of our key players for the season." ' ' '