TORONTO – General manager Alex Anthopoulos was evasive on the subject of the Blue Jays budget parameters as baseball moves closer to the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. “Were having dialogue with teams,” said Anthopoulos. “Ultimately what we end up doing, if we do things or get things done, well never get into specifics. I dont think weve ever given out a number when it comes to payroll and things like that.” Getting down to the nitty-gritty, the answer to the question on fans minds: can the ballclub add salary? Can it take on an increase in payroll? Can it make a small dent in the bottom line in order to improve the team? “We can add players,” said Anthopoulos. “We have the ability to have that dialogue at any time. I dont see any reason why we wont be able to add players and obviously players make money. No one plays for free.” What about the belief that any deal must be dollar in-dollar out? Also known as revenue neutral? “I would never get into the specifics of that in terms of how we would make things work and where things fit in our payroll projections. Those are things we keep in house,” said Anthopoulos. “I understand why you guys are asking. I totally respect it. Its just things that we keep that stuff internal.” The proof will be in the actions of the ballclub, not just in the next 11 days leading up to the first trade deadline but also through August, when deals can still be made but not without the players involved first clearing waivers. In most cases thats a formality. “I think you could see, this is just a feeling, I think theres potentially going to be more activity in August this year than in years past,” said Anthopoulos. “You saw last year guys like (Justin) Morneau and (Marlon) Byrd got moved, (Alex) Rios got moved after (July) 31, I think thats where, from a contractual standpoint and because of the extra wildcard, some clubs just need to wait a little while longer.” According to baseball-reference.com, the Blue Jays have $135.4 million committed to player salary in 2014. A quiet trade deadline will lead to finger pointing at Anthopoulos, which would be unfair. There will be blame to go around; ownership would be at the top of the list. The general manager is aware there are holes in his lineup. Theres a need to acquire an infielder. Theres a need to upgrade the bullpen, an attempt at which will be made internally with the likely promotion of top prospect Aaron Sanchez. There are few teams in baseball that wouldnt add an arm to the starting rotation. Anthopoulos, with support of ownership, changed the course of the franchise in the offseason of 2012 when he made blockbuster trades with the Miami Marlins and New York Mets. The Blue Jays went from a franchise with a large haul of prospects building with youth to a win-now ballclub thanks to acquisitions of the likes of R.A. Dickey, Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle. Now, with a veteran laden lineup, the Blue Jays could use an acquisition or two to cement the clubs footing in the pennant picture. But with ownerships new CEO, who inherited a multi-billion dollar investment in another sports property, the landscape has changed. Anthopoulos finds himself with a win-now lineup. If his jobs on the line, as has been suggested, it would be strange for ownership to fire the general manager if it stood in the way of moves Anthopoulos would and could have made. Ownership needs to be win-now, too. 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So fine in fact that Blatter didnt have to be asked about a possible World Cup in Canada -- he brought it up on his own. "Lets go to see if you can bring the famous FIFAs World Cup we just played in Brazil to your country," he said Monday. "Im sure that this country will be as calm as it is now, and tell me one country in the world actually that is very calm. And here, I feel home." Thats good news for Canadian soccer ahead of the Under-20 Womens World Cup, which begins Tuesday and runs through Aug. 24 in Toronto, Montreal, Edmonton and Moncton, N.B. Canada opens play Tuesday against Ghana in Toronto. The 16-team event is a precursor to next years Womens World Cup, which will move from 16 teams to 24. Blatter called the tournaments a necessary step to a successful bid by the Canadian Soccer Association for the mens tournament. "Its time. Its a project and if youre going to have a project like the FIFA World Cup, it takes some time," he said. "You have had the courage and it was necessary to (CSA president Victor Montagliani) to have the courage to ask, to organize FIFAs Womens World Cup with 24 teams. It will be the first time." The CSA has said it plans to enter a formal bid for the 2026 World Cup. "Were the only G8 country that hasnt hosted a World Cup ...," said Montagliani. "I think weve sort of started to shed our humbleness a little bit ... I think thats our next step of evolution in terms oof the growth of the game, and I think something that not only bodes well for our country but also the continent and will help our neighbours as well.dddddddddddd" None of which actually guarantees Canada will host a World Cup. Canada won the bidding to both womens tournaments in 2011 after its lone opposition, Zimbabwe, pulled out of consideration. Canada previously hosted the mens Under-17 World Cup in 1987 and the mens Under-20 World Cup in 2007, as well as the first womens under-20 tournament in 2002. Theres also the matter of a significant disparity between the womens and mens teams. The womens side, led by star Christine Sinclair of London, Ont., is ranked seventh in the world and recently won bronze at the 2012 London Games. The men are 118th in the world, have only a 1986 World Cup appearance to their credit and are early in a rebuilding process. But Blatter was quick to reminisce about Canadas soccer history. He recalled the decision made in Montreal by the FIFA Congress in 1976 to expel South Africa for its then pro-apartheid stance. He also downplayed Canadas geographic disadvantage as a possible World Cup host. "The distances? What are distances?" he said. "We have just been in Brazil. And you know Brazil is a country with 200 million people, and we have been in three difference zones of climate. If you play in Canada, we will be in the same zone of climate. ... In Brazil we were at the equator. It was hot, humid, sometimes raining." Brazil is already in the past for FIFA. Canada, if Blatter is to be believed, could be in its future if the womens tournaments are a success. "Next year there is no Brazil. Because Brazil is still in the air somewhere," he said. "But next year its not Brazil. Its the under-20 and then (the Womens World Cup). Theres no (other) big competition next year. So lets go." ' ' '