For a fleeting moment on Friday when I saw that the New York Yankees had designated Vernon Wells for assignment, I wondered if the Blue Jays would take him back or even want him back. After all, the Jays are looking for a right-hand hitting platoon partner for Adam Lind. Wells fits the bill in that department, but outside of a solid six weeks or so sto tart with the Yankees last season, his numbers over the past two years with the Los Angeles Angels and in New York have been in serious decline. Consider this, though: Last season Wells hit .281 against the Jays with three home runs and 10 runs batted in. At Rogers Centre, he batted .357 with two homers and six runs batted in. Granted, both are extremely small sample sizes, but the pride he showed facing his original team has to count for something. Then, there is, of course, the economics. Of the $21 mill. Wells is owed in the final year of his contract, the Angels are responsible for $18.6 mill. Its possible, then, that after the Yankees share is factored in, a team could get Vernon Wells for $500,000 for this season. He has said in the recent past, he will retire after this contract is up, so there isnt a major risk involved. In fact, its the same situation the Blue Jays found themselves in with lefty reliever Darren Oliver last season and now Oliver has retired. The Blue Jays are hoping that after back surgery Melky Cabrera will return to form and play left field, but Wells would offer insurance in left and, as mentioned earlier, could split the DH duties with Adam Lind. I dont know that it will happen, and actually doubt that it will, but there is another angle to consider and thats the Blue Jays history of bringing back veterans over the years. I havent done an in depth study on this, but I doubt any team in baseball has brought back more franchise veterans than the Blue Jays have. Just consider some of the names. Alfredo Griffin, the Blue Jays shortstop in the late 70s and early 80s, was traded away to the Oakland Athletics for would-be closer Bill Caudill. Griffin was brought back as a free agent and collected World Series rings with the club in 92 and 93 as a utility infielder. Tony Fernandez, who succeeded Griffin at short, was dealt to the San Diego Padres along with Fred McGriff in the franchise changing-deal for Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter. Fernandez was brought back in a trade in time to play for the World Series winners in 1993. Dave Stieb, the franchises first ace, was out of the game for four years when the Jays brought him back for a comeback in 1998 that lasted through the end of the season. Stieb went 1-2 with a couple of saves at age 40 in a swing role, before ultimately retiring for a second and final time. Pat Borders, stalwart catcher and MVP of the 92 World Series, returned as a free agent for a brief stint in 1999 and actually added one more homer to his Blue Jays resume. And there were others, Pat Hentgen returned as a pitcher and later as a coach. Lloyd Moseby returned as a coach, as did Pete Walker, who pitched for the team and is now the pitching coach. It goes even higher up the ladder than that. Cito Gaston, who managed the Jays to both of their World Series titles and then was fired late in the 1997 season, came back as a hitting coach under Jim Fregosi and then managed the team again for two-plus seasons. John Gibbons, too, has managed the team twice and Paul Beeston has been with the Blue Jays on two separate occasions sandwiched around a brief time working in the commisioners office. All of this doesnt even include the rollercoaster journeys of lefty David Wells and the "Beeg Mon" Rico Carty, who both played for the Jays multiple times The Jays have already brought back one storied veteran this season in Roy Halladay, who signed with the club for a day in the off-season so he could officially retire with the team that drafted him and helped forge his career. I dont know what, if anything, Vernon Wells has left, but at worst he is a very cheap risk and, at best, another classy Blue Jays veteran who would look good ending his career in Toronto. Players can begin filing for arbitration on Tuesday. The Blue Jays have three players eligible in lefty reliever Brett Cecil, swing starter Esmil Rogers and outfielder Colby Rasmus. Rasmuss situation is the most interesting, since he is going into his final season before he can become an unrestricted free agent. 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It really is amazing what can happen over time, how a team can go from nobodies to contenders just by certain people talking up their chances. With that in mind, it is important to remember how you feel about these teams today. Things will change, players will get hurt and their form will change, for better or worse, so now is not the time to marry yourself to your picks but it is a very good idea to stick to the majority of what you think today. With that in mind, here are my picks from each group to progress, with a few other predicitions thrown in there too. GROUP A – Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon Initial thoughts on the draw – Brazil will have wanted this kind of group where they can (and will) win it but be challenged and, in Mexico and Croatia, they have teams that will not be cannon fodder. The problem for Brazil is how tough group B is and thats who they will be paired with in the last 16. Most anticipated game – Brazil vs Croatia: Opening game of the World Cup. Pressure is incredible on a host starting a tournament (I am surprised so many hosts want to start the tournament off) but in Croatia, they have an opponent who they can beat. Group Winner – Brazil Runner-up – Mexico GROUP B – Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia Initial thoughts on the draw – I am not a fan of the term Group of Death but if you are looking for the strongest group, this is it – by a mile! Chile were the team no seeded team wanted to face and Spain, much like four years ago, get them again. Throw in the Dutch and you have an absolutely fantastic group. Spain are a wonderful side but their style of winning tight, narrow games could come back and cost them in this very competitive group. Most anticipated game – Spain vs Netherlands: it is the first match and anyone who loses with Chile still to play will be in massive trouble. Spain cannot afford to start slow again and the road back from an opening game loss is even tougher in 2014 than it was in 2010 with Chile playing in South America. Group Winner – Chile Runner-up - Netherlands GROUP C – Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan Initial thoughts on the draw – On paper, this does not look like a group to get excited about but we should see some wonderful football on display in this group, featuring three teams who can be expansive and easy on the eye (sorry Greece). For Colombia, this is a dream group to help them build confidence as they move towards the knock-out rounds. Most Anticipated Game – Ivory Coast vs Greece: The Africans have been harshly treated in each of the last two World Cup draws but now they have a real shot at qualifying. Their final group, up against Greece, will be a stern test to see if they can climb a hurdle theyve never jumped before. Group Winner - Colombia Runner-up - Ivory Coast GROUP D - Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy Initial thoughts on the draw – You will read in the next few months how Uruguay are old and past their prime, finished fifth out of nine in qualifying and can be beaten but this team is built for tournaments like this and they get to play Costa Rica first. Enngland, however, play Costa Rica (which is not an easy game for them either) last and could be out of the tournament by then.ddddddddddddItaly need a group where they can be tested early (like 2006, not 2010) and although this is a tough one for them, they are more than good enough to win it. Most anticipated game – England vs Italy in Manaus: The latest kick off in the tournament will help, but the weather will be hot in the Amazon region. Hopefully, it wont be a tense 0-0 with so much to come afterwards but dont bet against it! Group Winner – Italy Runner-up - Uruguay GROUP E – Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras Initial thoughts on the draw – France have been dealt a hand they wanted. Questions around their mental state are warranted but these three games, against teams they can beat, will go along way to helping restore the confidence they need to show their talents. Honduras, ironically, gets the E4 slot that a European team so wanted for climate purposes. Seeds Switzerland get a chance to show why they deserved their ranking. Most anticipated game – Switzerland vs Ecuador: The first match of the group is a true match of confederations that will likely help one team advance over the other. Group Winner – France Runner-up - Ecuador GROUP F – Argentina, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Iran, Nigeria Initial thoughts on the draw – Lost on all the debates of what the group of Death is, is the fact that Argentina were handed a fantastic path towards the final stages. Not only were they given an easy group they should win, they were paired with second in E for the last 16 and winner of H or second in G for the last 8. They also went on to the opposite half of the draw than the winner of group A, likely arch-rivals Brazil. Most anticipated game – Bosnia & Herzegovina vs Nigeria: Another game of contrasting styles that is likely to be a playoff to make the last 16. Group Winner – Argentina Runner-up - Nigeria GROUP G – Germany, Portugal, Ghana, USA Initial thoughts on the draw – Klinsmann vs Germany; Ronaldo vs Ozil, so many storylines in this group but lost in it all will be how Africas strongest nation got a very difficult draw once again (much like Ivory Coast in 2006 and 2010). For the Americans, it is a nightmare draw, placed in G4, forced to play all three games in the heat of northern Brazil, and against three very good nations. Most anticipated game – Germany vs Portugal: Forget the Klinsmann Derby, another opportunity to see Cristiano Ronaldo against the Germans (like in Euro 2012) will be magnificent. Group Winner – Germany Runner-up - Portugal GROUP H – Belgium, Algeria, Russia, Korea Republic Initial thoughts on the draw – Absolutely perfect for Belgium. Handed H1, they avoid any games in the tropical north and get three opponents that they will be comfortable with. Russia, against Algeria and Korea Republic, will also be happy but dont rule them out for failing to deliver on the biggest stage once again. Most anticipated game – Belgium vs Algeria: Marc Wilmots side are going to get a lot of love between now and the first game. They were already many peoples sleeper pick and that will intensify with this draw and the game against Algeria finally gives the world a chance to see what Belgium do on the big stage. Group Winner – Belgium Runner-up – Korea Republic ' ' '