"Where will free agent Yu Darvish land?

Someone in the commissioner's office in New York knows for sure.

Right now, the perception is that the Blue Jays have outbid both the New York Yankees and the Texas Rangers for the Japanese right-hander, according to industry sources on Wednesday night.

That view is shared by half a dozen front offices, but no one at 1 Blue Jays Way is talking.

Not even a puff of smoke from the CN Tower.

How much did the Chicago Cubs bid remains to be seen.

New Cubs president Theo Epstein won the bidding for Daisuke Matsuzaka in 2006 when Epstein was with the Boston Red Sox.

"I was told Rogers Communications said: 'Whatever it costs, sign him,' " said one executive. "Only (president) Paul Beeston and (general manager) Alex Anthopoulos know the number on the bid in baseball operations."

Opposing clubs believe that the Jays submitted a bid in the $40-million-to-$50-million US range just for the right to talk to Darvish. They do not believe Beeston downplaying his team's interest in Darvish last month."