Toronto Blue Jays News: Pro Sports Daily

Report: Manny Ramirez to decide between A's, Orioles, Blue Jays

February 4

Oakland Tribune

"Free-agent Manny Ramirez is trying to decide whether he'll sign with the the A's, Orioles or Blue Jays, a source told ESPNDePortesLosAngeles.com on Friday. Once Ramirez chooses a team, his agents will then begin contract negotiations with that team. The A's have been the most vocal among the three teams in their support for adding the 39-year-old Ramirez. Co-owner Lew Wolff, along with assistant general manager David Forst, both said within the past two weeks that the A's are very open to the idea of adding the embattled slugger."

McGowan confident in ability to win a spot in Jays' rotation

February 3

Toronto Star

columnist Richard Griffin

"He doesn't demand any favours. In fact, how confident is Jays' right-hander Dustin McGowan in his ability to come all the way back as a member of the major-league starting rotation this spring? So confident that he even offered a mild chiding of GM Alex Anthopoulos when asked about his competition, the field of young candidates he will be facing in Dunedin. "To tell you the truth, it might have been good to add somebody, a veteran pitcher or something, but we didn't," McGowan said. "I'm pretty sure we've got the talent and depth now to fill those holes. Apparently it wasn't a big deal not to add anybody. I'm excited just to go to camp and compete, now that I know I'm healthy and I can do"

Savvy vet Cordero solidifies Jays' bullpen

February 2

Toronto Sun

"Francisco Cordero, the Blue Jays' newest reliever, spoke eloquently about the closer's role, the new bullpen he's joining and former Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto. "He's one of the nicest guys, a hard worker and plays hard every day," Cordero told reporters Wednesday. Asked if he'd make time to visit Votto's statue, Cordero answered: "I will go, find a statue of Joey, get a picture taken with me in it and send it to him." Of course there isn't a statue of the Etobicoke first baseman. Not yet. Yet check back in a few years, especially if the Reds make the former National League MVP winner and his $17 million US contract for next season available at the end of the season and the"

Sources: Playoff expansion has issues

February 1

ESPN.com

"Baseball commissioner Bud Selig continues to talk confidently about expanding the baseball playoff field in 2012. But sources tell ESPN.com efforts to make that happen remain bogged down, all because of one thorny little complication: the details. Wednesday was supposed to be the day the commissioner's office finished a proposed schedule for the 2012 postseason and shipped it to the players' association for consideration. But sources told ESPN.com that deadline wasn't going to be met -- not because talks have broken down, but because fitting two extra wild-card pieces into the postseason puzzle has proven to be more involved than the commissioner has been willing to acknowledge. The new"

Happy daze for Jays

January 31

Toronto Sun

columnist Steve Buffery

"God bless Blue Jays fans. This is a team that hasn't made it to the post-season since 1993 and has finished in fourth-place in the AL East the past four years in a row, yet the majority of fans — at least the season-ticket holders who showed up at the annual state of the franchise gathering Monday night — seem to be in some sort of happy daze. Here's an example of the types of "questions" directed at GM Alex Anthopoulos, manager John Farrell and president Paul Beeston on Monday night: "Hi. I've been a season-ticket holder for 32 years and I continue to be a Blue Jays supporter, and I thank the Blue Jays for a night such as this. And for the past 32 years you've been terrific!" Finishing in"

Jays fans, brass share desire to win

January 31

Toronto Sun

"Methinks it was 1995 when we first used the words "apathy" and "Blue Jays" in the same sentence. And we used it in 2000, again in 2009 and probably could have used it many more seasons. The words did not go together Monday as the three wise men — president Paul Beeston, general manager Alex Anthopoulos and manager John Farrell — sat atop the Jays dugout, along with MC Buck Martinez, at the eighth annual state of the union address at Rogers Centre. Roughly 800 season-ticket holders showed passion, concern, knowledge, anger and frustration over an off-season which saw the Jays pass on Prince Fielder and bid on but not gain the services of Japanese free agent Yu Darvish. The Jays said they"

Jays fans frustrated by those cable guys

January 31

Toronto Sun

"Blue Jays fans are mad as hell. But for the most part they appear to be willing to keep on taking it. Oh, there was plenty of frustration on Monday night at the cavernous Rogers Centre where 800 or so season ticket holders were invited to an open bar, pre-season "state of the franchise" session with team brass. But that frustration was mostly expressed among themselves. Few of the sharp barbs that fans have bombarded the Toronto Sun with over that past week on the state of the team made it to Blue Jays CEO Paul Beeston, general manager Alex Anthopoulos and manager John Farrell. But that doesn't mean there was an acceptance of the status quo. Glen Pye, a season ticket holder from that very"

Fans still buying Blue Jays' pitch after winter of disappointment

January 31

Toronto Star

columnist Richard Griffin

"Most who remember that far back believe the tradition of a State of the Franchise get-together for Jays' season-ticket holders began the first winter of former GM J.P. Ricciardi's tenure in 2002. The annual event was staged for the 11th time on Monday at the Rogers Centre, hosted by president Paul Beeston, GM Alex Anthopoulos and manager John Farrell. Coincidentally, the master of ceremonies was Buck Martinez, the Jays' manager in 2002. The names change but the song remains the same: "Keep the faith. Competing in the division is at hand." Fans seem to buy into it. Other than a few slightly edgy, pointed questions about the Jays missing out on three starting pitchers who landed elsewhere in"

Unsigned free agents for the Jays' consideration

January 31

Toronto Star

"The Blue Jays are almost certainly finished with free-agent signings and trades — and any other way of upgrading their roster — with spring training due to open in about three weeks. There remains, however, a long if not particularly interesting list of unsigned free agents the team might want to take a last look at, to see if there is anyone worth adding. Here's a look at the possibilities: SOME NOTEWORTHY FAS Veteran starters Roy Oswalt and Edwin Jackson offer mid-rotation potential, but Oswalt, according to Twitter and several media reports, has told both the Jays and the Cleveland Indians that he is not interested in coming to either city. Jackson, also according to reports, has"

Selig expects two one-game playoffs for this fall

January 28

Chicago Tribune

"Baseball appears ready for an extra round of wild-card playoffs by this fall, according to commissioner Bud Selig. "I really believe we'll have the (extra) wild card for this year," Selig said Friday at SoxFest. "Clubs really want it. I don't think I've ever seen an issue that the clubs want more than to have the extra wild card." The extra round would be one-game elimination in both the National and American Leagues to the teams who would have missed the playoffs as they are set up now. Some have argued for a best-of-three, but that appears impossible with the scheduled all but set for 2012."

Random testing? Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista given 16 drug tests over two seasons

January 27

Toronto Star

"Jose Bautista should buy some lottery tickets. Based on the way the Major League conducts its random drug testing, either the Toronto Blue Jays slugger is really lucky — or somebody has some serious suspicions about him — if he's really been drug tested 16 times over the past two years as he revealed at a banquet in the Dominican Republic recently. The Major Leagues' leading home run hitter the past two seasons made the remark at the banquet, according to a report in Spanish published in the Dominican newspaper "Hoy." Former pitcher Pedro Martinez was talking to a group of Dominican baseball players at a dinner given by President Leonel Fernandez when the hurler praised Bautista for his"

Jays' owners worse than Pal Hal?

January 26

Toronto Sun

columnist Steve Buffery

"Worst owners ever. In my opinion, Rogers is the worst (major) sports franchise owner in this city's history, with the possible exception of Harold Ballard, though say what you want about Pal Hal, the man did have an unquenchable thirst to win. Rogers? Not. Perhaps the Jays weren't interested in Prince Fielder. Whatever. What it is, though, is yet another big name free agent up for grabs, that the Jays didn't get. Just like Yu Darvish and the other guys they apparently wanted, but didn't get. To win in Major League Baseball, which doesn't have a salary cap, you have to spend money, especially in the AL East. They don't spend enough. And please, no lectures about how Rogers has to be careful"

Rangers reliever Koji Uehara rejects trade to Blue Jays

January 26

Toronto Star

"It seems the Jays can't catch a break with Japanese pitchers this offseason. After missing out on the Yu Darvish sweepstakes, the Blue Jays were rejected by Rangers reliever Koji Uehara on Tuesday when the 36-year-old right-handed reliever refused a trade to Toronto. According to ESPN.com and the Dallas Morning News, Uehara exercised his no-trade clause that includes Toronto among six teams. A report in Japan said Uehara — who was dealt by the Orioles to the Rangers last season — didn't want to move his family from Baltimore to Toronto."

Blue Jays' stand-pat free-agent strategy costly

January 26

Toronto Star

columnist Cathal Kelly

"Let's say you bought a smartphone. And after buying the smartphone and signing up for a data plan, you found that the phone and its network didn't work as well as you'd expected. So you call up the big telecom firm that made the phone and built the network and say, "I'm pretty disappointed with the performance of your product. Any chance you're going to upgrade?" "Well, here's the problem," the telecom says. "Not enough people bought that phone. So it's not worth our while to make it any better. Now, if a whole bunch of other people were to buy the same phone you have, we'd certainly think long and hard about laying out the cash to make the network competitive with networks in, say,"

Toronto moves on from Uehara

January 25

Dallas Morning News

"Scratch Toronto from the list of teams that could take on Texas Rangers right-handed reliever Koji Uehara. According to a major-league official, Uehara on Tuesday told the Rangers that he would reject a deal to Toronto. The Jays are among the teams that Uehara has no-trade protection against in a contract signed with Baltimore in December, 2010. The Blue Jays responded by quickly signing free-agent righthander Francisco Cordero, a former closer with the Rangers and several other teams. Cordero received a one-year deal worth $4.5 million."

MLB allows retired Tony La Russa to manage in All-Star game against Ron Washington

January 25

Dallas Morning News

"Tony La Russa will come out of retirement to manage the National League team for the July 10 All-Star Game at Kansas City. La Russa will go against Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington, who will handle the American League team for the second consecutive season. La Russa retired shortly after St. Louis defeated the Rangers in the seven-game World Series."

Jays sign reliever Cordero

January 25

Toronto Sun

"How do you like the Blue Jays bullpen now? First, here's what the Toronto bullpen looked like over the final two weeks of August: The cast included: closer Frank Francisco, Casey Janssen, Jon Rauch, Shawn Camp, Joel Carreno, Jesse Litsch, Luis Perez, Rommie Lewis, Wil Ledezma, Brian Tallet and Trever Miller. Since then the Jays have been busy improving the bullpen, adding another important arm Tuesday, in Francisco Cordero, who saved 37 of 43 chances with the Cincinnati Reds last season."

Cordero signs one-year deal with Blue Jays

January 24

MLB.com

"The Blue Jays continued to revamp their bullpen on Tuesday afternoon by agreeing to terms with free agent reliever Francisco Cordero. The move is pending a physical and has been confirmed by an MLB.com source close to the negotiations. A report on Foxsports.com indicated the deal was for one year at $4.5 million. Cordero's signing puts an end to the club's overhaul of its bullpen following the recent acquisitions of Sergio Santos, Jason Frasor and Darren Oliver. The 36-year-old Cordero posted a 2.45 ERA with 37 saves in 43 opportunities in Cincinnati last year. He has 327 saves in 397 career opportunities and will provide another veteran presence at the back end of Toronto's bullpen. It's"

Jays' Brandon Morrow can concentrate on 'just winning' after signing 3-year, $20-million deal

January 25

Toronto Star

"Now that Brandon Morrow is $20 million richer, he can focus all of his mental efforts on channelling his inner jerk. "There's a certain level of kind of (jerk) you need to be to really succeed," the Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher said Tuesday after the team announced it had signed him to a three-year contract extension. "You look at the best athletes and they've all got a little bit of that in them, especially when things are on the line." That's the attitude Morrow exhibited in his final three starts last season, which saw him allow just two runs in 21 innings while striking out 24 to bring his record to 11-11. Morrow admitted he pitched those final three games in anger after a"

Blue Jays chasing Uehara

January 24

Toronto Sun

"The Blue Jays are again trying to land a Japanese import after all. No, not right-hander Yu Darvish, but right-hander reliever Koji Uehara of the Texas Rangers. Uehara was 1-1 with a 1.72 ERA in 43 games (47 innings) with the Baltimore Orioles last season. However, after moving to the Rangers he was 1-2 with a 4.00 ERA in 22 games (18 innings). He had a 33.75 ERA in the playoffs and was not on the Rangers' World Series roster. From the Rangers' standpoint it's a salary dump as he earns $4 million in 2012. Uehara would have to waive his limited no-trade clause to approve a deal to the Jays."

Blue Jays add Omar Vizquel, lock up Brandon Morrow for three years

January 24

Toronto Star

"There will no doubt be a million one-liners about Omar Vizquel’s advanced baseball age, approaching 45 years old in April, but there can be no down-side risk to the Jays’ signing on Monday of the potential future Hall of Fame shortstop to a one-year, minor-league, non-guaranteed deal with an invitation to spring training. Years ago in Cleveland, Vizquel was mentor to a young minor-league infielder named John McDonald. For three seasons, the slick-fielding Venezuelan with 11 Gold Gloves to his credit teamed with former Jays second baseman and current Hall of Famer Roberto Alomar to form the best double-play combination in baseball and perhaps in major-league history. Johnny Mac, who"

Morrow, Janssen likely headed to arbitration

January 18

Toronto Sun

"Blue Jays right-hander Brandon Morrow and reliever Casey Janssen are likely headed to salary arbitration. The Jays went into the final few hours leading to the Tuesday's 1 p.m. deadline with five unsigned players for 2012. Morrow, who earned $2.3 million US last year, has four years and 91 days service, while Janssen, who earned $1.095 million last season, has five years, 63 days services. Morrow's agent filed for $4.2 million while the Jays countered with a $3.9 million offer. Now, numbers will be submitted by each side and arbitration hearings will be held between Feb. 1 and Feb. 21. General manager Alex Anthopoulos signed second baseman Kelly Johnson, right-hander Carlos Villanueva"

Toronto Blue Jays re-sign Kelly Johnson, Carlos Villanueva and Ben Francisco

January 18

Toronto Star

"The Blue Jays appear to be headed to arbitration with projected No. 2 starter Brandon Morrow and reliever Casey Janssen after contract negotiations broke down prior to Tuesday's deadline for the exchange of salary figures. The pitchers were the only two of five arbitration-eligible players who failed to reach one-year deals for the upcoming season by the 1 p.m. deadline. Second baseman Kelly Johnson ($6,375,000), outfielder Ben Francisco ($1,537,500) and swingman Carlos Villanueva ($2,277,500) all signed Tuesday to avoid arbitration hearings, which will take place from Feb. 1-21."

Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos is testing the fans' patience

January 17

Toronto Star

"Whenever a general manager is hired, a figurative collar is attached to his neck and a length of rope is strung out behind him. Eventually, the slack in that rope gets used up — by losses and bad contracts and missed deals and the simple passage of time. Then the collar begins to tighten. For the first time in his nearly 2 ½ years as GM of the Blue Jays, Alex Anthopoulos has begun to feel the tugging."

Yankees load up while Jays chill

January 16

Toronto Star

columnist Damien Cox

"They were, quite clearly, the kind of splashy moves many Blue Jays fans were hoping to see from Alex Anthopoulos this winter. That it was the division rival Yankees that made the moves after a snoozy winter only deepens the perception that the Jays have been less than aggressive in bolstering their lineup. On the weekend, the Yankees dispatched young catcher Jesus Montero, impressive in a September audition last season, and pitcher Hector Noesi to the offence-hungry Seattle Mariners in exchange for 23-year-old, 6-foot-7 right-handed starter Michael Pineda and 19-year-old pitcher Jose Campos. In a nearly simultaneous move, New York also signed another starting pitcher, 37-year-old veteran"

Blue Jays re-sign outfielder Colby Rasmus for one year, $2.7 million

January 16

Toronto Star

"The Toronto Blue Jays have avoided arbitration with Colby Rasmus, signing the outfielder to a one-year deal worth $2.7 million on Sunday. Toronto acquired the 25-year-old from the St. Louis Cardinals in a multi-player trade July 27. Rasmus appeared in 129 games last season, posting a .225 batting average with 14 home runs and 53 RBIs. In 420 career games, Rasmus has a .251 average with 53 homers and 171 RBIs."

Blue Jays' search for starter might be inside job

January 14

Toronto Sun

"As spring training approached, the Blue Jays had added a closer but not an experienced starting pitcher. There was still time, although general manager Alex Anthopoulos said that after the official signing of free-agent left-hander Darren Oliver that he was probably done dealing for now. Meanwhile, manager John Farrell was talking about how the improvement in the starting staff could come from pitchers who are with the team already. The rotation is the key to making the next jump to being contenders. "That is still the one area where we've got to make the greatest strides to add 10 more wins," Farrell said. The Blue Jays were 81-81 last season. "We can get there," Farrell said. "It will"

Blue Jays "not a serious suitor" for free agent Prince Fielder

January 13

Hardball Talk

"There was a general assumption, at the beginning of this offseason, that the Blue Jays would get involved at some point in the bidding for Prince Fielder. But it hasn't happened yet, and it's not likely to. According to FOX Sports' Jon Paul Morosi, Toronto is "not a serious suitor" for the 27-year-old first baseman, and his asking price would have to come "way down" for that to suddenly change. Fielder has drawn only mild interest around the league this winter despite owning a shiny .929 career OPS and batting .299/.415/.566 with 38 home runs and 120 RBI across 692 plate appearances last season for Milwaukee."

Hutchison on the right track

January 13

Toronto Sun

"Each draft day names are linked forever. The Seattle Mariners passed on local right-hander Tim Lincecum to select right-hander Brandon Morrow in 2006. The Blue Jays decided Troy Tulowitzki was the best player available but chose Ricky Romero in 2005 since they thought they had Russ Adams as future shortstop. And James Paxton, the Jays pick who got away, connects with right-hander Drew Hutchison. Paxton was the Jays second pick, 37th overall, in 2009. When the Jays could not agree on a deal with Paxton's agent, Scott Boras, Paxton returned to the University of Kentucky. Now a fast riser in the Seattle Mariners system, Paxton may be a September call-up. The Jays didn't put Paxton's allotted"

Blue Jays prospects camp features speedy Anthony Gose

January 13

Toronto Star

columnist Richard Griffin

"The month of January would ordinarily seem the off-season's darkest moment before the dawn of yet another major league training camp. However, with the Jays' winter tour across Canada currently in the Maritimes, the club took the opportunity to stage its second annual prospects camp at the Rogers Centre for what they hope will become seven important, future Jays. It's an initiative allowing some of the more talented kids to understand that maybe Toronto isn't all that different than home. Among the list of prized prospects in town are pitchers Chad Jenkins, Drew Hutchison and Evan Crawford, infielders Mike McDade and Jon Diaz, along with outfielders Moises Sierra and Anthony Gose."

Jays' Butterfield sees much to admire in Patriots coach Belichick

January 12

Toronto Star

"It's become an annual rite of winter, at least for the last half-dozen NFL seasons. Heading into the first game of the New England Patriots' playoff run, I'll call Blue Jays third-base coach Brian Butterfield in Maine for his evaluation of his favourite team and its Super Bowl chances. The Pats take on the surprising Denver Broncos on Saturday night in Foxboro, Mass. Butterfield is close friends with many members of the Pats' front office and is a huge admirer of coach Bill Belichick as a leader of young men. "I think the league has changed," Butterfield said. "It's turning into an offensive-oriented league. Now it remains to be seen whether a Green Bay, New Orleans or New England can win"

Jays still shopping after adding Oliver, bumping Teahen

January 10

Toronto Star

"On Monday, the Jays finally announced the signing of free-agent left-hander Darren Oliver to a one-year, $4 million contract, plus a club option of $3 million for 2013. Oliver, 41, has played 18 seasons for eight different major-league teams. He pitched the last two years with the Texas Rangers. "There's a lot of things that Darren brings to the table," Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos said. "Being left-handed in our division is very important when you look at all the big left-handed bats. "The other component is the type of human being he is. You look at the makeup and everything he brings to the clubhouse . . . as a teammate, work ethic, character.""

Oliver acquisition beefs up Blue Jays' bullpen

January 9

MLB.com

"The Blue Jays put the finishing touches on their bullpen Monday morning by officially signing left-hander Darren Oliver to a one-year contract. Oliver will earn $4 million in 2012, with a club option valued at $3 million for the following season. To make room on the 40-man roster, utility man Mark Teahen was designated for assignment. Toronto will add Oliver to its mix at the back end of a revamped bullpen that appears to be complete following the offseason additions of Jason Frasor and Sergio Santos."

Ball hall's class of 2012 on deck, then the real fun starts

January 9

Toronto Star

columnist Richard Griffin

"Gentlemen, start your search engines. At 3 p.m. on Monday, the president of the Baseball Hall of Fame, Jeff Idelson, will announce via MLB Network the results of the 2012 Hall voting. The induction ceremony for any new members will be held July 20-22 in Cooperstown, N.Y. The results, no matter what, will lead to controversy, but will pale in comparison to the firestorm next year when the first of the Steroid Era candidates become eligible. Up until this point, the Hall has remained relatively free of harmful controversy beyond the obvious differences of opinion, mostly with regard to who is left out. In fact, since it opened its doors in 1936, the biggest issues of exclusion have swirled"

Report: Orioles watch Manny Ramirez take batting practice

January 8

Baltimore Sun

"The Orioles are reportedly showing interest in Manny Ramirez, at least enough to want to see him swing a bat again. Baltimore was one of two clubs -- the Blue Jays were the other -- to watch Ramirez take batting practice in Miami, according to a report by ESPN Deportes. It had been reported last week that Ramirez was planning to work out for teams this month. Orioles exective vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette wouldn't comment on the team's interest in Ramirez, who abruptly retired in April when he faced a 100-game suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drugs. Ramirez had previously served a 50-game suspension for another failed drug test in 2009."

Jays manager aims to contend

January 8

Toronto Sun

"The sun was shining brightly Saturday morning. Inside the Rogers Centre there was optimism too, brighter than the new banks of lights. "I think we can contend this year," said manager John Farrell, standing outside the Blue Jays third base dugout before their winter tour kicked off. That's a big jump from a .500 team to say 91 wins. Is this reminiscent of then manager Carlos Tosca predicting 96 runs at the state of the union address after winning 86 games in 2003? The Jays fired Tosca 111 games into 2004 as the Jays won only 67 games. "We can get there," Farrell said. "It will take more quality innings from our rotation. We think Brett Cecil can re-gain his form of two years ago when he"

Blue Jays focused on 2012 playoff berth

January 8

Toronto Star

columnist Richard Griffin

"Slowly but surely, this group of Blue Jays is showing signs, after 17 sadly contrarian years since the strike of 1994, of regaining the hearts and souls of Toronto's baseball fans. This observation comes after watching Saturday's interaction of players with fans and fans to players, as the Jays kicked off the winter tour with an onfield youth clinic at the Rogers Centre before they head to Ottawa, Montreal and the Maritimes. Much of that improved Jays karma has been off the field with smiling interaction by a core group of players that has warmed to the city, and vice-versa, largely via social networking. That is, of course, without the advice of Kris Humphries, and as long as none chooses"

Blue Jays get Frasor back

January 2

Toronto Sun

"The Toronto Blue Jays have re-acquired pitcher Jason Frasor. The right-hander spent eight seasons with the Blue Jays before the club dealt him to the Chicago White Sox last July 27. The Sox sent him back to Toronto on Sunday and picked up pitching prospects Daniel Webb and Myles Jaye in return from the Jays. Frasor made a combined 64 relief appearances for the Jays and White Sox last season, posting a record of 3-4 with a 3.60 earned run average. In his first stint with Toronto, he was 24-28 with 36 saves and a 3.69 ERA in 455 games."

White Sox trade Jason Frasor back to Blue Jays for two minor-leaguers

January 2

Chicago Sun-Times

"The White Sox' payroll trimming and replenishing of their farm continued Sunday with the trade of right-handed reliever Jason Frasor to the Toronto Blue Jays for right-handed minor-league pitchers Myles Jaye and Daniel Webb. It was the second salary-reducing trade in two days by general manager Ken Williams, who unloaded All-Star outfielder Carlos Quentin to the San Diego Padres for two pitching prospects on Saturday. The New Year's weekend salary savings total about $11 million, dropping the Sox' payroll for 2012 to an estimated $105 million, $22.8 million less than last season's franchise-high $127.8 million. Frasor, 34, was 3-3 with a 3.60 ERA with the Sox and Jays last season. The Oak"

Sox trade Frasor to Blue Jays for two minor league pitchers

January 2

Chicago Tribune

"Continuing to pare payroll and stockpile young pitchers, the White Sox traded reliever Jason Frasor back to the Blue Jays for a pair of Class A pitchers. It completed a strange journey for Frasor, the south suburban native who joined the Sox with young starter Zach Stewart last July in a trade with the Blue Jays for Edwin Jackson and Mark Teahen. So the Sox now have Stewart, plus Sunday acquisitions Myles Jaye and Daniel Webb, in the double-dealing with Toronto. In the mix for the fifth starter spot with the Sox, Stewart threw a shutout against the Twins in September. Over the New Year's weekend, the White Sox have acquired four minor league pitchers for two veterans, Carlos Quentin and"

Blue Jays ink Laffey to Minor League contract

January 1

MLB.com

"The Blue Jays have signed left-hander Aaron Laffey to a Minor League contract, the club announced Saturday. The 26-year-old has spent five seasons in the big leagues, most recently with the Yankees after starting the 2011 campaign in Seattle. He was drafted by, and spent the first four years of his career with, the Indians."

Jays sign lefty reliever Oliver: reports

December 31

Toronto Star

"The Blue Jays, in need of bullpen help, have agreed to a one-year deal with veteran left-handed reliever Darren Oliver, ESPNDallas.com and mlb.com reported Friday. Oliver, 41, is a lefty specialist, 5-5 with a 2.29 ERA in 51 innings with the Texas Rangers this past season. The deal, which won't be finalized until Oliver passes a physical, would result in Texas receiving a first-round pick in next year's draft as compensation."

Oliver leaves Rangers, signs with Blue Jays

December 31

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

"Darren Oliver is headed to the Toronto Blue Jays.The veteran left-handed reliever expressed interest in returning to the Texas Rangers earlier this off-season, but they never made a formal offer.Instead, Oliver accepted a one-year contract with the Blue Jays on Friday, according to a source. The deal is pending a physical and, assuming Oliver passes, the Rangers will receive a supplemental first round pick in the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft.Oliver, a Southlake resident originally drafted by the Rangers in 1988, spent the past two seasons with the organization. He went 5-5 with a 2.29 ERA in 61 games last season, holding left-handed batters to an average of .227.In the postseason,"

Source: Darren Oliver close to deal with Toronto

December 30

Dallas Morning News

"The Rangers' month-long negotiating period with Yu Darvish - and the hefty investment it will require to sign the Japanese right-hander - does come with a price tag. It appears it has cost them the opportunity to bring Darren Oliver back to the bullpen. According to two major league sources, Oliver is close to signing a deal with Toronto - the club that finished as runnerup to the Rangers in the Darvish sweepstakes. Oliver, 41, was the Rangers' top lefty reliever each of the last two seasons. Oliver, who lives in Southlake, had expressed interest in returning to the Rangers and there was mutual interest. He met with GM Jon Daniels in early December, but the Rangers did not make any"

Boras' tactics loom over market for Prince

December 26

MLB.com

"What's the market for Prince Fielder? Plenty of baseball executives would love to know the answer to that one. Welcome to the world of Scott Boras. The Orioles are in. The Orioles are out. Possibly. The Nationals definitely are in unless they happen to be out. The Mariners have some interest. Most likely. The Blue Jays, too. The Cubs make some sense, but they've said nothing. The Rangers? They appear to be sitting this one out, but don't bet next month's rent on them staying out. And don't forget the mystery team. Boras always has one or two of them in play. Do they exist? The Red Sox doubted a mystery team existed in their negotiations with Boras regarding Johnny Damon six years ago."

Cespedes, the latest international sensation

December 26

Foxsports.com

"Cespedes, the talented Cuban defector, is expected to establish residency in the Dominican Republic and be cleared to play by US officials soon after the New Year. And then he's likely to sign for more than the $30.25 million countryman Aroldis Chapman received from the Reds, according to nearly all of the dozen executives I polled. The reasons for such a large contract, according to one team official, include a lower injury risk than Chapman, a larger number of interested teams, the new CBA and hype created by YouTube videos showcasing Cespedes' superlative athletic ability. Baseball officials with expertise in Latin America believe the Yankees, Cubs, Phillies, Blue Jays, Rangers, Tigers,"

Encarnacion not left out

December 24

Toronto Sun

"Edwin Encarnacion is trying to make himself Mr. Versatility for the Toronto Blue Jays. Encarnacion, not known for his strong defensive play in the past, was mainly a designated hitter with the Jays in 2011, seeing some duty at third base and first base. But in the Dominican winter league, Encarnacion has played left field in four of his first five games. There has been talk in Jays circles of giving him a shot at left field next season."

Jays need to come clean on Darvish bid

December 23

Toronto Star

columnist Richard Griffin

"So if not $50 million then what actually was the Jays' posted offer on Yu Darvish? If the Jays weren't in fact close to the Rangers' reported winning bid of $51.7 million, which secondary Jays' sources at one time seemed eager to leave teed up as truth for public consumption, then what was it? People who claim to have inner knowledge of the final bidding are jumping in with finger-wagging certainty that the Rangers won by "a country mile" and that it "wasn't even close." But what exactly does that mean? Even if a new number is presented as fact, is it accurate? If the posting system is working properly then the only people that should know the Jays' actual offer are the Jays and several"

Second-tier free agents won't help Jays contend

December 22

Toronto Star

columnist Richard Griffin

"Outbid by the Texas Rangers for negotiating rights to Japanese star Yu Darvish and with slugging first baseman Prince Fielder not even in the team's crosshairs, it has become obvious that this edition of free agency won't help the Jays get to where they want to be as a contender in the AL East. They are going to have to build the old-fashioned way. The Jays are going to have to trade their way into contention."