Clearly, the Blue Jays’ philosophy on building a contender has evolved in time.

Back on June 8, 2010, journeyman left-hander Brian Tallet started in a meaningless 9-0 loss vs. the Rays at Tropicana Field. It was the last time any pitcher older than 30 started for the Jays — 31 months and 424 games ago.

All things being equal, beginning opening day 2013, the Jays are counting on more than 60 starts from veterans R.A. Dickey, 38, and Mark Buehrle, 34. Times have surely changed.

In fact, the Jays have had a 60 per cent turnover in the current rotation (three of five), adding hard-throwing right-hander Josh Johnson from the Marlins. The philosophy had always been to build around young starters and grow with them into perennial contenders. The two main men in that regard had been Ricky Romero and Brandon Morrow. Arguably, in the space of one off-season, they are now four-five in the rotation. The cost has been steep, yielding highly regarded pitching prospects Justin Nicolino, Noah Syndergaard, Henderson Alvarez and Anthony DeSclafani. Will it pay off?

On paper, the Jays’ rotation continues to match up well in the American League, with the understanding that there are three weeks remaining before pitchers and catchers take the field at the Mattick Training Centre in Dunedin, Fla. Injuries can change all that.

That being said, here is a ranking of the top half-dozen AL rotations heading into 2013, a season brimming with optimism in which the Jays have been established as World Series betting favourites by Las Vegas sports books.

1. Detroit Tigers

Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Doug Fister, Anibal Sanchez, Rick Porcello

When the Tigers re-signed Sanchez, it gave them the most solid top four of any AL rotation. When you begin with the best pitcher in the league, Verlander, then add Scherzer and Fister, both with great stuff and proven in post-season play, it’s hard to argue. Porcello still has a high ceiling. Four of the five posted enough innings to qualify for the ERA title last year with a combined 17.1 WAR (wins above replacement), according to stats listed on ESPN.com.

2. Tampa Bay Rays

David Price, Jeremy Hellickson, Matt Moore, Jeff Niemann, Alex Cobb

Sure, the Rays weakened the rotation when they moved James Shields to the Royals, but when you start with Cy guy Price and former rookie of the year Hellickson, then throw in Moore, the 23-year-old left-hander who was predicted to be the next big thing a year ago, it’s a solid base. They need to fill two spots from among Niemann, Cobb, Chris Archer and Jake Odorizzi.

3. Toronto Blue Jays

R.A. Dickey, Brandon Morrow, Mark Buehrle, Josh Johnson, Ricky Romero

There are plenty of reasons to doubt, if you look. Can a late-arriving 38-year-old knuckleballer keep riding the upward curve? Can Morrow stay healthy for a full season? At some point Buehrle’s incredible streak of 12 straight 200-inning seasons has to end, doesn’t it? Johnson says he’s healthy, but he’s lost velocity and effectiveness the last couple of seasons. Then there’s Romero. Only the Yankees’ rotation is older than the Jays’, tied with the Royals, who will soon be a lot younger.

4. Oakland A’s

Brett Anderson, Tommy Milone, Jarrod Parker, Dan Straily, A.J. Griffin

The youngest rotation in the AL. Lefty Milone is the elder statesman at 26. A young rotation like this that carried the A’s to a surprising division crown can go either way as they struggle with increased workloads and greater expectations. But these kids are good, and Anderson and Parker will be stars.

5. New York Yankees

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CC Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda, Andy Pettitte, Ivan Nova, Phil Hughes

One can never underestimate any Yankee rotation, no matter how down and out and over the hill it may look. But where do they go from here with Pettitte, 40, and Kuroda, 38, on one-year deals and Hughes eligible for free agency after the season? Sabathia is a workhorse and a true ace, but needs to stay healthy. This group combined for an impressive 12.2 WAR in 2012.

6. Texas Rangers

Derek Holland, Yu Darvish, Matt Harrison, Alexi Ogando, Martin Perez

A surprising breakdown shows that three of the four youngest AL rotations are in the West. Averaging 26 years of age, the Rangers are tied with the Mariners, behind the A’s and just ahead of the Rays, followed by the Astros in fifth. Darvish proved a solid investment from Japan, while Holland and Harrison are making them forget C.J. Wilson and the injured Colby Lewis, the still-on-board right-hander who may be back in the picture by July.

Overrated

Royals, Angels, Red Sox

Behind Shields, a reliable top-of-the-rotation arm, the Royals are counting on Ervin Santana, Mark Guthrie, Bruce Chen and Wade Davis for a prairie renaissance. Davis is the only one under 30.

The Angels once again will be among the early AL favourites because of some off-season offensive additions. In the starting five behind Jered Weaver, left-hander Jason Vargas may be second best. Wilson was a free-agent disappointment, while Joe Blanton and Tommy Hanson are prisoners of WAR when it comes to projecting value with a new team in a new league.

The Sox need a return to form by Jon Lester under his ex-pitching coach, now manager, John Farrell. They need a Lourdes-like comeback from John Lackey, who missed an entire season and was not good when healthy, and a Ponce de Leon, fountain of youth-like resurgence from Ryan Dempster, who parlayed personality and clubhouse presence into a sweet new deal.

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