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DUNEDIN, Florida – The Blue Jays are on the record with the clubs plan to start Brandon Morrow in the seasons fifth game, the home opener on April 4th against the New York Yankees. "Right now were kind of looking at him at the end of the rotation right now," said pitching coach Pete Walker. "Not indicative of how hes doing or how hes feeling. Its just, it seems like the spot we want him right now." Morrows final outing last season came on May 28. He was suffering from pain and stiffness in his right forearm. The diagnosis was an entrapped radial nerve. When rest and treatment didnt solve the problem, Morrow was shut down for the year in late July. Now, with just more than two weeks left until opening day, Morrows high count for the spring is 47 pitches. His last outing came last Tuesday, March 11, against the Baseball Canada junior team, during which he threw only fastballs and splitters. He has struggled to command his fastball, which the club and Morrow insist isnt worrisome due to his long layoff. "Were looking at the way guys are throwing and Brandon, right now, we want to make sure hes healthy, we want to make sure he gets through the season healthy," said Walker. "We need him to be a big part of this rotation and right now its just where he fits in." Morrow has been throwing relatively consistently since November. The Jays have brought him along carefully this spring but with the regular season looming, Morrow is running out of time to build up to go deeper into games. With too few innings to spread among all of their rotation hopefuls, the Jays are giving minor league games to rotation certainties like R.A. Dickey and Mark Buehrle. Morrow is included in that bunch. The plan is for Morrow to pitch four or five innings against the Yankees Scranton affiliate on Tuesday in Tampa. Tuesdays start will come a full week after Morrows last appearance. Walker says theres no concern about Morrows health. "No, no, but just past history we want to make sure we take care of him as best we can," he said. "Tuesday will be a good outing for him," continued Walker. "Hes going to get some good work on Tuesday and hell still have two outings after that." The Blue Jays have off days on three consecutive Mondays in April: April 7, 14 and 21. The club will require a fifth starter on four occasions during the first month of the season, although Walker and manager John Gibbons will be able to make adjustments as they see fit. "It depends on who youre playing, how you line up sometimes as you look at the first couple of weeks of the season," said Walker. "We can always slot him back in where we want to put him but, right now, this is how things look right now. Things could change." Meanwhile, Gibbons reiterated on Sunday morning that, in his mind, there is one spot open in the starting rotation. Neither the manager nor anyone on his coaching staff will publicly confirm Drew Hutchison has a big league job. However, the 23-year-old has been the best starter in camp. It would be a hard sell, barring the unforeseen, to keep Hutchison off the opening day roster. That leaves J.A. Happ, Esmil Rogers, Todd Redmond and Ricky Romero fighting for the final spot. "Im a big Happ fan," said Gibbons. "I think hes going to have a heck of a year for us. All indications the other day, his backs fine, he threw very well and that was a big question. Now, if his back flares up, it may be a different story." Casey Janssen, Steve Delabar, Sergio Santos, Aaron Loup and Brett Cecil are assured bullpen jobs. What isnt yet decided is whether there will be a seven reliever contingent or an eight-man bullpen heading north. An eight-man bullpen would shorten Gibbons bench but with much uncertainty about the group of starters, Gibbons wouldnt rule out taking an extra arm. There is also the business matter of options – who has them and who doesnt – to factor in. The Jays may have no choice but to put one of their pitchers through waivers but the club is loathe to lose the bodies. "What makes the team the strongest," said Gibbons. "Do we feel we need to carry that extra guy to help the rotation out? Because theyre all really good; I mean, were not going to keep a guy just to keep a guy unless theyre valuable and we think everybody we have is valuable." CAMP CUTS The Blue Jays optioned pitchers Kyle Drabek, Sean Nolin and Chad Jenkins to Triple-A Buffalo prior to Sundays 4-3, 10-inning win over the Orioles. Drabek, 26, struggled to command his repertoire this spring, giving up eight earned runs, 10 hits and six walks over eight innings. "Go down there and start pitching," said manager John Gibbons. "Were running out of time. Hes not going to make the team. He needs to go down there and get his work in." Jenkins, 26, allowed three runs over 6 2/3 spring innings, including one each in his final two appearances. He was a contributor as a call up last season, both as a starter and as a reliever, but he has options remaining. The Blue Jays can get Jenkins to Buffalo without first passing him through waivers. "He should be pitching in the big leagues," said Gibbons. "Theyre not far away. If somebody falters, if we keep somebody in the bullpen and they falter and we feel like they can help us more, theyll be right back up. Thats just the way the game works." Nolin, a 24-year-old lefthander, appeared in four spring games, starting one. He made his big league debut last May in a loss to Baltimore, was quickly demoted and not recalled the remainder of the season. Hes an option for the Blue Jays if the rotation suffers from underperformance or an injury. 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LONDON -- Manchester United is one of several teams to have made an offer for Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen as the Belgium international prepares to leave Emirates Stadium after five years. Vermaelen has lost his place in Arsenals team to Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny, and manager Arsene Wenger wont stand in the centre backs way if he decides to move on. United is on the look-out for defenders after seeing Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra leave in the off-season. "Are Man United one of the teams to have made an offer?" Wenger said of the interest in Vermaelen. "I think they could be in the group." Wenger said he would prefer to sell Vermaelen, who was once Arsenals captain, to a foreign club. British media have reported that Barcelona have lodged a bid. "He needs to play now," Wenger said. "He has shown ann outstanding attitude but he is in a position where we wouldnt stand in his way if he finds an interesting opportunity.dddddddddddd" Vermaelen, who joined Arsenal from Ajax in July 2009, has had problems with his form and fitness over the past two seasons. With just over a week to go before the start of the Premier League season, Arsenals trio of World Cup winners -- Mesut Ozil, Mertesacker and Lukas Podolski -- are close to returning to training. None of them, however, will be playing in the first game of the campaign, against Crystal Palace on Aug. 16. "You either bring them back quickly and then you lose them in October," Wenger said, "or you give them the needed rest and build them up again." England winger Theo Walcott, who missed the World Cup because of a knee injury, is expected to return by the start of September. ' ' '