With the Grapefruit league underway, Blue Jays fans across the province are carefully analyzing the new and improved roster that's projected to take a run at this year's World Series title.

Some major moves during the off-season have injected life back into Jays fans, who have waited two decades to see their team in the playoffs.

“You're looking at guys like R.A. Dickey, who won the Cy Young Award last year; Jose Reyes, who is a former batting champion; and a guy like Melky Cabrera, who was on his way to a batting title last year before he was suspended,” said Arden Zwelling, a writer for Sportsnet Magazine. “They've taken on really significant pieces and a lot of payroll, which is something that they didn't do for a number of years.”

The new $120 million Jays' salary many not compare to teams like the New York Yankees, who boast a $210 million salary this year, but it's the largest in Jays' history.

Many believe that the team's three new starting pitchers, who together will cost the team just over $30 million, will be the key to reaching the playoffs. Aside from Dickey and his famous knuckleballs, opponents will have to face Mark Buehrle, whose history includes two no-hitters, and Josh Johnson a big right handed pitcher who has the make-up of an ace. These acquisitions will join starters Brandon Morrow and Ricky Romero.

“The Jays have always been a team that scored a lot of runs, the problem has been starting pitching for the most part, I mean, ever since Roy Halladay left, they haven't really had a true ace,” stated Zwelling.

Former Jays centerfielder Devon White, best known for his catch in the '92 World Series, reflected on what made that winning team so remarkable.

“The Jays had a very good team in the late '80s: Jessie Barfield, George Bell, Tony Fernandez was there, '88, '89, '90. They were a little bit lacking in pitching, but that was taken care of in '91,'92, '93, so that's the difference,” said White.

With a boost to their bullpen, the Jays' roster is near-perfect on paper, arguably the best since the '93 team. Many comparisons have been made between the two teams, but nothing can be certain until the season starts.

“I think it's different eras, it's different players, they're a lot faster team right now, we might've had more power,” said White. “I don't think it's fair to those guys to compare them with us, but on paper I think they should win the division hands down, but everyone has to stay healthy and it's a big ‘if.'”

Looking perfect on paper doesn't always guarantee success.

“They do look really good on paper, but a lot of people thought last year's Blue Jays team looked pretty good on a paper — good enough to challenge for a wild card, and they ended up losing more games than they won,” said Zwelling.

Last season the Jays were plagued with injuries. According to Zwelling, it's important to be prepared for those injuries to happen, “What might be key is guys like J.A. Happ, and Chad Jenkins who are probably gonna start at AAA Buffalo. If there are injuries, if a Blue Jays pitcher does hit the 15-day disabled list, and it's likely that at least one pitcher will get hurt this year, those guys can fill those holes.”

White had some advice for this year's team: “The best thing I can say is just stay focused and stay healthy. Getting to September, when we say September it's a long journey — games and weather and injuries — it's a long gruelling year, so you just gotta keep playing hard and hope everything falls into place.”