It happens every season. Players that have been traded for the first time emotionally meet up with their old teams for a series of scheduled games. We witnessed that this week with Troy Tulowitzki, traded to Toronto last July, returning to Coors Field where he toiled for 10 passionate years with the Colorado Rockies. The moment is always cathartic, allowing star athletes to remember the good times and visit with former mates, yet come to grips with the fact they have moved on.

But it’s not always just the players. With the Indians visiting for a four-game set this weekend, it’s Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro and GM Ross Atkins who have a chance to renew old acquaintances, both on and off the field. Considering the Indians’ spring training is now in Arizona, it’s the first time both the Jays’ execs will have seen the team that Shapiro built and that Atkins groomed as the Tribe’s vice-president of player personnel.

“There are relationships that you establish throughout the industry and those relationships are one of the most fulfilling aspects of these jobs,” Atkins said of seeing manager Terry Francona and the Indians in a series that begins Thursday, highlighted by a Canada Day matchup Friday between right-handers Marcus Stroman and Josh Tomlin. “I’ll enjoy seeing the Indians on a personal level for about five minutes and then my focus will return back to the relationships I have in Toronto.”

The Indians remain in first place in the AL Central and second overall in the American League. They seem loose. Being a little facetious, perhaps that may have more to do with the fact that LeBron James and the Cavaliers have removed any and all of that angst of being the first Cleveland team since 1964 to bring home a pro championship.

It is interesting to look at the two rosters and compare how they were built, how much they are paid and what the comparisons might mean for the Jays in the future.

PAYROLLS

The first thing Jays fans should be concerned abut is where could the Jays’ payroll be headed. It’s obvious Rogers ownership was never thrilled with the feeling former GM Alex Anthopoulos was committed to making an offer to free agent David Price and bumping the payroll even higher. The expertise of Shapiro as Indians GM always seems to be competing on a budget.

Cleveland is a smaller market, so there are adjustments to be made. But there is a reason the Jays brought the frugal one on board. Shapiro became Indians GM in 2001, succeeding John Hart. The club bottomed out in 2004 with a $34.3-million payroll at season’s end. After that, the payroll rose for five straight years, with Shapiro named Sporting News executive of the year twice, in 2005 and 2007. The Indians’ current payroll, according to the respected Cot’s Baseball Contracts, is $96.3 million, 14th overall.

Shapiro inherited a larger payroll in Toronto, one that was headed even higher under Anthopoulos, But Rogers replaced him. According to Cot’s, the Jays’ opening day payroll this year was $136.8 million, a small bump from last year. Even though the result of Anthopoulos’ bold moves at the 2015 deadline resulted in finishing two games from a World Series berth, he surely wanted more. The Jays currently have the eighth-highest payroll in the majors.

ROSTERS

The Indians, after a disappointing 2015, have become legitimate AL contenders. Yes, they have one of the best managers in baseball in Terry Francona, but let’s also examine how much of the current Cleveland roster Shapiro is responsible for.

The Shapiro regime obtained 20 of 29 Indians’ players that are on the active roster, disabled, or restricted. Acquired via trade while Shapiro was GM or president between 2001 and 2015 were: DH Carlos Santana (Dodgers, 2008), C Yan Gomes (Jays, ’12), OF Michael Brantley (Brewers, ’08), P Trevor Bauer and P Brian Shaw (Diamondbacks, ’12), P Carlos Carrasco (Phillies, ’09), P Corey Kluber (Padres, ’10), OF Anthony Almonte (Padres, ’15) and P Zach McAllister (Yankees, ’10).

Drafted in June, or signed as international free agents, all between 2006 and 2012, were 2B Jason Kipnis, SS Francisco Lindor, OF Jason Chisenhall, OF Tyler Naquin, P Cody Allen, C Roberto Perez, OF Jose Ramirez and P Danny Salazar and P Josh Tomlin.

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For the Blue Jays, eight players on the 25-man roster, or DL, were acquired since Shapiro arrived to take over. Some were brought in before he appointed Atkins. That list of new regime players includes pitchers J.A. Happ, Jesse Chavez, Drew Storen, Jason Grilli, Gavin Floyd, Joe Biagini, Franklin Morales and outfielder Junior Lake.

Shapiro has taken heat for the perception that he prefers “Indians North” to a continuation of the 2015 Jays’ playoff run. However, watching how the Indians have turned it around with a superior manager, similarly solid starting pitching and an offence that maximizes its abilities, it will be an interesting Canada Day weekend at the Rogers Centre as the Shapiro/Atkins worlds collide.

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