BALTIMORE — Prior to tonight’s game here against the O’s at Camden Yards, Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston was asked what his wishlist would be for this offseason, if he had the luxury of an unlimited payroll.

Wish Numero Uno was for the Blue Jays to find a way to retain pitcher A.J. Burnett, who will likely opt out of his contract at the end of the year. Gaston then said Toronto would benefit from maybe adding some more power to the lineup. When pressed, Cito offered up some names.

“There’s a few of them out there,” Gaston said. “Giambi is out there. I think the kid down in Texas, Bradley is out there. The guys that have a little pop. I don’t know who else. There’s a few more out there, I’m pretty sure, but those names come to mind.”

Jason Giambi of the Yankees, who has ties to Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi from their days in Oakland, will likely have his $22 million club option for 2009 declined by New York. Milton Bradley, who is having a great season for the Rangers, is due to become a free agent as well.

When told of Cito’s comments, Ricciardi shook his head and laughed.

“Our manager shoudn’t be talking about players that are playing for other teams,” he said with a chuckle. “We’ll see. We’ll see what the market bears. We’ll see what we can do. Our first priority will be to try to get A.J. to see if we can keep him here.

“I think things will build off that. If we get him, then we can do other things. If we can’t, then we’ll try other things.”

Today’s lineups:

TORONTO (84-75) at BALTIMORE (67-91)
at 7:05 p.m. ET at Camden Yards

BLUE JAYS
Marco Scutaro, 2B
Jose Bautista, 1B
Alex Rios, CF
Vernon Wells, DH
Adam Lind, LF
Scott Rolen, 3B
Travis Snider, RF
Curtis Thigpen, C
John McDonald, SS

PITCHING: RHP Scott Richmond (0-3, 5.14)

ORIOLES
Brian Roberts, 2B
Nick Markakis, RF
Melvin Mora, DH
Aubrey Huff, 3B
Oscar Salazar, 1B
Adam Jones, CF
Luke Scott, LF
Omir Santos, C
Brandon Fahey, SS

PITCHING: LHP Chris Waters (3-4, 5.06)

TORONTO — The Blue Jays reached an agreement on a two-year contract extension for manager Cito Gaston on Thursday afternoon, keeping him at the helm through the 2010 season. Toronto did not disclose the financial terms of Gaston’s new deal.

After an 11-year absence from the manager’s seat, the 64-year-old Gaston was named the Blue Jays’ manager on June 20, after the club dismissed John Gibbons. Through 84 games since Gaston’s arrivale, Toronto has posted a 48-36 record and pulled within striking distance of the American League Wild Card in early September.

Prior to joining Toronto this season, Gaston last managed the Blue Jays from 1989-97, guiding the team to consecutive World Series titles in 1992-93. Gaston, who is the first two-time manager in franchise history, owns a career managerial record of 749-685 in his time with the Blue Jays.

Toronto hasn’t announced its coaching staff for 2009, though Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi said an announcement could come this weekend. Gaston has indicated that he’d like each of the Jays’ coaches to return, and those who decide to stay with the club will likely receive two-year contracts as well.

Today’s lineups:

NEW YORK (87-71) at TORONTO (83-75)
at 7:07 p.m. ET at the Rogers Centre

YANKEES
Brett Gardner, CF
Robinson Cano. 2B
Bobby Abreu, DH
Xavier Nady, RF
Jason Giambi, 1B
Wilson Betemit, 3B
Cody Ransom, SS
Melky Cabrera, LF
Francisco Cervelli, C

PITCHING: RHP Carl Pavano (4-1, 4.99)

BLUE JAYS
Joe Inglett, 2B
Marco Scutaro, SS
Alex Rios, CF
Vernon Wells, DH
Adam Lind, LF
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Scott Rolen, 3B
Travis Snider, RF
Gregg Zaun, C

PITCHING: RHP Roy Halladay (19-11, 2.81)

TORONTO — Could this be A.J. Burnett’s final start in a Blue Jays uniform? That seems to be a very realistic possibility. Burnett could come back on short rest and potentially go for win No. 20 on the season’s final day, but he’s already said he won’t do that.

Why would he? Burnett is on the verge of cashing in big time as a free agent, if he opts out of his contract, and winning 20 won’t fetch him much more dough that he would get otherwise. So why risk a possible injury in your final start?

Aaron Hill took some time to speak with reporters today and Toronto’s second baseman is feeling good. He has an appointment with a neurologist in the area on Thursday, and he said he full expects to be cleared to begin his normal offseason routine. So, good news.

Hill was asked if he’d be willing to potentially move to shortstop next season, if the Blue Jays asked as much from him. Hill said he’d prefer to stay at second base, and said most of his teammates have told him they’d prefer him there as well. Hill said it’d take his teammates telling him a move to short was best for the team for him to move.

Also, manager Cito Gaston said last week that he believed his contract extension might be announced before the end of this homestand. Well, that’s tomorrow, so we’ll see if his prediction holds up. Cito didn’t sound entirely confident that it’d be settled as early as Thursday when the topic came up today:

“I dont know. I’m going to probably be back for a day or so next week. If it doesn’t happen tomorrow, who knows? Hopefully, before the week’s up.”

Today’s lineups:

NEW YORK (86-71) at TORONTO (83-74)
at 7:07 p.m. ET at the Rogers Centre

YANKEES
Brett Gardner, CF
Robinson Cano. 2B
Bobby Abreu, RF
Xavier Nady, LF
Jason Giambi, DH
Wilson Betemit, 3B
Cody Ransom, SS
Juan Miranda, 1B
Chad Moeller, C

PITCHING: RHP Phil Hughes (0-4, 7.96)

BLUE JAYS
Joe Inglett, 2B
Marco Scutaro, SS
Alex Rios, RF
Vernon Wells, CF
Adam Lind, DH
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Scott Rolen, 3B
Travis Snider, LF
Gregg Zaun, C

PITCHING: RHP A.J. Burnett (18-9, 4.18)

TORONTO — Riding the elevator up to the press level here at Rogers Centre, I was standing beside Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi and the friendly elevator operator. He turned to J.P., points to Mike Mussina’s name on the lineup sheet that was taped to the wall and said, “I don’t like this guy.”

He isn’t alone. It’s no secret that Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston isn’t a fan of Mussina, and that’s putting it lightly. Earlier this season, when asked about Mussina — tonight’s starter for the Yankees — Gaston said, “Mike Mussina can kiss my [posterior], and you can tell him I said that,”

Today, when told that Mussina might never win 20 games in a season if Toronto won tonight’s game, Gaston smiled and said, “Man, I wish I was playing.” There were laughs all around as Cito left the dugout. Gaston’s dislike of Mussina dates back to the 1993 All-Star Game in Baltimore, when the manager didn’t use the pitcher in his home city.

In the ninth inning, Mussina began to warm up in the bullpen — without the go-ahead from Gaston — and he later claimed that he was simply throwing a side session in preparation for his next start. That was his story, but it was thought by some to be Mussina’s way of trying to force his way into the game. Gaston instead used Toronto’s Duane Ward to finish off the AL’s win.

Good times.

As for today’s Blue Jays? Casey Janssen is in town and is throwing from a distance of roughly 105 feet. He’ll work his way up to 120 feet and then on to a mound over the next month before shutting it down for a month or so.

Gaston said that the rotation for the upcoming series in Baltimore will be Scott Richmond, John Parrish and Jesse Litsch. David Purcey has been shut down for the season in light of the volume of innings he’s thrown between Triple-A and Toronto.

Today’s lineups:

NEW YORK (85-71) at TORONTO (83-73)
at 7:07 p.m. ET at the Rogers Centre

YANKEES
Brett Gardner, CF
Johnny Damon, LF
Bobby Abreu, RF
Alex Rodriguez, 3B
Jason Giambi, 1B
Xavier Nady, DH
Robinson Cano, 2B
Cody Ransom, SS
Jose Molina, C

PITCHING: RHP Mike Mussina (18-9, 3.57)

BLUE JAYS
Joe Inglett, 2B
Marco Scutaro, SS
Alex Rios, RF
Vernon Wells, CF
Adam Lind, LF
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Scott Rolen, 3B
Gregg Zaun, C
Travis Snider, DH

PITCHING: RHP Jesse Litsch (12-8, 3.72)

TORONTO — Back after a day of fighting a nasty cold, but feeling better today. Pretty relaxed morning over here at the Rogers Centre, where the Jays lounged around playing cards and listening to the Bloodhound Gang. Awesome.

While hanging out in the clubhouse, Shaun Marcum strolled by and said he’s down to go under the knife on Sept. 30. Dr. James Andrews will perform the surgery in Birmingham, Ala. In a best-case scenario, Marcum could be throwing again by June or so and maybe even pitching a few innings for the Jays by next September.

Also, young Travis Snider — he of the .333 average and .549 slugging since being promoted to Toronto — will not be taking part in the Arizona Fall League this October. Snider was originally down to play in the AFL, but that was before the Blue Jays decided to call him up for the season’s final month.

Today’s lineups:

BOSTON (90-64) at TORONTO (83-72)
at 1:07 p.m. ET at the Rogers Centre

RED SOX
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Kevin Youkilis, 3B
Jason Bay, LF
Mark Kotsay, RF
Jed Lowrie, SS
Sean Casey, 1B
Jason Varitek, C

PITCHING: RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (17-2, 2.93)

BLUE JAYS
Joe Inglett, 2B
Marco Scutaro, SS
Alex Rios, RF
Vernon Wells, CF
Adam Lind, DH
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Scott Rolen, 3B
Travis Snider, LF
Curtis Thigpen, C

PITCHING: RHP Scott Richmond (0-2, 5.06)

TORONTO — In case the news hasn’t reached you yet, Blue Jays starter Shaun Marcum is done for the season — next season, that is. Marcum needs Tommy John surgery on his right elbow and won’t be able to pitch for Toronto until 2010. Bad news in Bird Land.

So, if A.J. Burnett opts out of his contract — the most likely scenario — Toronto’s projected rotation for Opening Day 2009 includes Roy Halladay, Jesse Litsch, David Purcey, aaaaand….Casey Janssen? Brett Cecil? Ricky Romero? Scott Richmond? Behind the top three, it’s all up in the air.

But, Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi the sudden loss of Marcum doesn’t figure to impact any of his offseason plans. So, while he’s said Toronto might offer another year or two on Burnett’s contract in an effort to sway him to stay, Ricciardi said he won’t be pushing any panic buttons due to the rotation’s cloudy forecast.

“We’re not going to do something out of panic,” Ricciardi said. “I don’t feel like we have to do anything. I feel like we’ve got young pitchers here who we’re pretty much convinced that they can come here and pitch. We’ll go with those guys.”

Marcum, meanwhile, fought back tears as he delivered the news of his upcoming surgery to reporters this afternoon. Toronto hasn’t heard back from Dr. James Andrews just yet, and there’s no schedule date as of now for the operation, but the procedure is coming and it’ll take Marcum out of the picture for all of next season.

“You’ve got to deal with it,” Marcum said. “It’s part of the game — injuries happen. I’ve just got to move forward and try to get healthy as soon as possible and be back here to help this club in 2010.”

Today’s lineups:

BOSTON (89-63-83) at TORONTO (82-71)
at 7:07 p.m. ET at the Rogers Centre

RED SOX
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Kevin Youkilis, 3B
Sean Casey, 1B
Jason Bay, LF
Mark Kotsay, RF
Jed Lowrie, SS
Jason Varitek, C

PITCHING: RHP Paul Byrd (11-12, 4.53)

BLUE JAYS
Joe Inglett, 2B
Marco Scutaro, SS
Alex Rios, RF
Vernon Wells, CF
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Adam Lind, DH
Scott Rolen, 3B
Gregg Zaun, C
Travis Snider, LF

PITCHING: RHP A.J. Burnett (18-10, 4.19)

TORONTO — There is still no news about the status of Jays starter Shaun Marcum, but the extent of the lack of update seemed almost cryptic. Basically, Marcum underwent an MRI on his right arm, but the Jays won’t say what the results are just yet.

Instead, Toronto is getting a second opinion from arm specialist Dr. James Andrews and plans on announcing the extent of Marcum’s injury on Friday. Marcum, meanwhile, said his forearm is still tender, though there’s no more numbness in his hand.

“Right now, we’re still looking at results and we’ll probably know a little bit more tomorrow,” Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston said. “They still want to look at it a little more before I can say anything to you guys. They want to make sure what they’re seeing is what they’re seeing.”

If what they’re seeing requires surgery, that would immediately put Marcum in doubt to break camp with the Jays at the start of 2009. So, behind Roy Halladay, you’re talking about a mix of Jesse Litsch, Casey Janssen, David Purcey, Ricky Romero, Brett Cecil and maybe Scott Richmond for starting jobs.

“It just means one of the other kids has to step up and go in that role,” Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi said. “Hopefully, it won’t come to that, but I guess you’ve got to prepare for the worst-case scenario.”

There’s the chance that the Jays would consider Scott Downs or Brian Wolfe as starters. Dustin McGowan could be out until May. A.J. Burnett could opt out and become a free agent. In the latter department, Ricciardi did not that the Jays are willing to explore adding a year or two on Burnett’s contract to maybe convince him to stick around.

“We’d love to have him stay,” Ricciardi said. “But if someone wants to blow him out of the water, that won’t be us. We would think about that, adding some years, but we’re not going to get in a bidding war. There’s got to be an interest on his part to stay, too.”

As for catcher Rod Barajas, he has a Grade 2 tear of his left hamstring and could be done for the season. Downs is still day to day with a right ankle injury. Me? I’m injury free — over a nasty bout of tendinitis — and counting down the days to the Chicago Marathon on Oct. 12. Last thing I need is hamstring or ankle issues. Arm problems I can deal with…

Today’s lineups:

BALTIMORE (67-83) at TORONTO (81-71)
at 7:07 p.m. ET at the Rogers Centre

ORIOLES
Brian Roberts, 2B
Alex Cintron, SS
Nick Markakis, RF
Aubrey Huff, 3B
Kevin Millar, 1B
Luke Scott, LF
Oscar Salazar, DH
Jay Payton, CF
Omir Santos, C

PITCHING: LHP Garrett Olson (9-8, 6.84)

BLUE JAYS
Marco Scutaro, SS
Jose Bautista, 2B
Alex Rios, RF
Vernon Wells, CF
Adam Lind, DH
Scott Rolen, 3B
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Curtis Thigpen, C
Travis Snider, LF

PITCHING: RHP Jesse Litsch (11-8, 3.75)

TORONTO — Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston today confirmed that he expects to sit down with general manager J.P. Ricciardi this week to hammer out the details of Gaston’s contract going forward. Gaston said he believes an announcement regarding his and the coaching staff’s status going forward could come during this homestand.

“I think J.P. and I are going to talk some time this week, hopefully,” Gaston said. “We’re going to try to get together and, hopefully, it’ll happen this week. I don’t know if it’s going to be today, tomorrow or whatever. I’m pretty sure it’ll be before we go on the road anyway.”

Blue Jays president and CEO Paul Godfrey wouldn’t confirm whether or not the forthcoming announcement signaled that Ricciardi would be back as the GM in 2009. Godfrey did offer some criticism about Ricciardi’s declaration in early August that Gaston was going to be back in the manager’s seat next year.

“As I said at the beginning, everybody is going to be evaluated at the end,” Godfrey said. “J.P. is the one who announced that Cito would be coming back. That should have been done at the end of the season, but that’s something that I concur with. So I guess there’s nothing more I can say about that one.”

Some injury updates: Shaun Marcum is having an MRI on his right arm on Thursday and is unlikely to make his next start; Scott Downs (right foot) is still day to day and unlikely to pitch again, if you ask me; and Rod Barajas is still day to day with tight left hamstring and also undergoing an MRI on Thursday.

The Blue Jays also plan on picking up Barajas’ $2.5 million club option for 2009. That being the case, this could be the end of the line for catcher Gregg Zaun in Toronto. The Jays will still likely want a veteran backup to Barajas next year, so there’s always the possibility, while remote, that Zaun returns.

Today’s lineups:

BALTIMORE (67-82) at TORONTO (80-71)
at 7:07 p.m. ET at the Rogers Centre

ORIOLES
Brian Roberts, 2B
Nick Markakis, RF
Melvin Mora, 3B
Aubrey Huff, 1B
Ramon Hernandez, C
Adam Jones, CF
Oscar Salazar, DH
Lou Montanez, LF
Juan Castro, SS

PITCHING: RHP Brian Bass (3-4, 4.84)

BLUE JAYS
Joe Inglett, 2B
Marco Scutaro, SS
Alex Rios, RF
Vernon Wells, CF
Adam Lind, LF
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Scott Rolen, 3B
Gregg Zaun, C
Travis Snider, DH

PITCHING: LHP David Purcey (3-6, 5.10)

TORONTO — Yeah, went to see the new Coens Bro’s flick, Burn After Reading, last night and it was pretty funny. It doesn’t come near The Big Lebowski in being the best Coens’ comedy out there (hard to top the greatest comedy of all time), but it definitely had its moments. Brad Pitt’s character had me laughing pretty hard and I thought the ending was fantastic.

Oh, the Blue Jays?

Well, they’re here today and still without setup man Scott Downs and catcher Rod Barajas. Toronto skip Cito Gaston said Downs had an X-ray on his ailing right ankle, but no word yet on results. Barajas, meanwhile, is still nursing a sore left hamstring. I’d say Barajas is more likely to make a return than Downs.

Jose Bautista starts at second base today for the first time since 2006, when he played a whole three games at the position. Cito said that he wants to use Bautista and Travis Snider more often down the stretch to see more of them with next season in mind. Also, it’s possible that Scott Richmond could get a start in the last series in Baltimore.

Today’s lineups:

BALTIMORE (66-82) at TORONTO (80-70)
at 7:07 p.m. ET at the Rogers Centre

ORIOLES
Brian Roberts, 2B
Nick Markakis, CF
Melvin Mora, 3B
Aubrey Huff, 1B
Ramon Hernandez, C
Luke Scott, LF
Adam Jones, CF
Oscar Salazar, DH
Juan Castro, SS

PITCHING: LHP Chris Waters (2-3, 5.73)

BLUE JAYS
Marco Scutaro, SS
Jose Bautista, 2B
Alex Rios, RF
Vernon Wells, CF
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Scott Rolen, 3B
Adam Lind, DH
Gregg Zaun, C
Travis Snider, LF

PITCHING: RHP Shaun Marcum (9-6, 3.38)

BOSTON — As promised, Blue Jays setup man Scott Downs took some time out on Sunday morning to talk with reporters about last night’s mishap in the eighth inning. As Toronto fans will recall in horror, Downs stumbled running off the mound, allowing the go-ahead run to score in an eventual 7-5 loss in Boston.

Coming off the mound, in an attempt to corral a slow roller off the bat of Jacoby Ellsbury, Downs aggravated the right ankle injury he suffered in mid August. Now, he’s day-to-day and at risk of being shut down for the season. If the Jays are eliminated mathematically soon, manager Cito Gaston said the club would lean toward shutting Downs down.

“It was when I broke,” Downs said. “I think it was my second step — I don’t remember. When I went to break and put pressure on it, it just gave out again. I caught it before it turned, but it’s just something that’s kind of been there and we’re trying to get through it the best we can.”

Also day-to-day is Toronto catcher Rod Barajas, who tweaked a left hamstring issue that first came up in Chicago earlier on the road trip. Barajas said he’s still a little sore, but he’s hoping the two days off will do him good.

Today’s lineups:

TORONTO (80-69) at BOSTON (87-61)
at 1:35 p.m. ET at Fenway Park

BLUE JAYS
Marco Scutaro, 2B
Jose Bautista, DH
Alex Rios, RF
Vernon Wells, CF
Kevin Mench, LF
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Scott Rolen, 3B
Gregg Zaun, C
John McDonald, SS

PITCHING: RHP Roy Halladay (18-10, 2.77)

RED SOX
Jacoby Ellsbury, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Kevin Youkilis, 1B
Mike Lowell, 3B
Jason Bay, LF
Jason Varitek, C
Alex Cora, SS
Coco Crisp, CF

PITCHING: LHP Jon Lester (14-5, 3.23)