Jays sign Gregg

The Toronto Blue Jays have signed closer Kevin Gregg to a one-year contract with options for second and third years, which could make the contract worth $12,000,000.

The first year pays him a guaranteed $2,750,000 in 2010. The second year option is worth $5,250,000, while the third year is worth $4,000,000.

Gregg had a 5-6 record with 23 saves and and a 4.72 ERA in 72 appearances.

He will likely compete with Frasor and Downs for the spot of closer.

 Waivers, Offers and Trades

The Toronto Blue Jays claimed shortstop Brian Bocock off waivers on January 7, 2010 from the San Fransisco Giants.

The 24-year-old Bocock split the 2009 season between Class A San Jose and Double-A Connecticut, batting .230 with three homers, 51 RBIs and 26 doubles. Bocock got his only playing time at the Major League level in '08, when he made the Giants' Opening Day roster. That year, Bocock appeared in 32 games, batting .143 (11-for-77).

Two days later, Alex Anthololous made a trade with the Cleveland Indians, acquiring former Jays prospect Zach Jackson for a player to be named later.

Jackson spent most of the 2009 season pitching for Triple-A Columbus, going 4-8 with a 6.05 ERA in 30 games (14 starts). He also appeared in three games for the Indians -- starting one -- and yielded nine earned runs in 8 2/3 innings (a 9.35 ERA).

The 26-year-old was taken No. 32 overall in '04 and has made 22 appearances (17 starts) spread out through three seasons with the Brewers and Indians, going 4-5 with a 5.81 ERA.

He was sent to Cleveland as part of the trade that acquired Cliff Lee.

Meanwhile, ex-Jay Brian Wolfe has signed a contract to pitch for the Japanese team Nippon Ham Fighters.

Yesterday, January 8th, Miami-based Spanish newspaper El Nuevo Herald reported that the Jays offered Aroldis Chapman a five-year contract worth $23,000,000. They state that the Angels have offered a similar contract, however other reports indicate that the Jays are Chapman's likely destination, as Paul Beeston has a great working with Chapman's agents, Randy and Alan Hendricks. Hendricks and Hendricks were the agent for Rogers Clemends during his time in Toronto.

 Jays Trade Brandon League For Brandon Morrow

Brandon League and OF prospect Johermyn Chavez, was sent to the Mariners in exchange hard throwing right handed prospect Brandon Morrow.

Brandon Morrow has a solid chance at starting for the Jays next year. Alex Anthopoulos compared him to an AJ Burnett due to his fluent delivery and ability to throw in the mid to upper 90's with ease.

Scouting Report On Brandon Morrow

Discuss In Blue Jays Forum

 Trade finalized?

It appears as though the trade of one of Toronto's best ever pitchers, Roy Halladay, is near completion. The trade appears to have gone down as follows:

Toronto trades Roy Hallday and $6,000,000 cash to the Philadelphia Phillies for prospects Michael Taylor, catcher Travis D'Arnaud and right handed pitcher Kyle Drabek. The Jays are then going to turn around and trade Taylor to the Oakland Athletics for 3B prospect Brett Wallace. It is widely believed that Wallace, a sure-fire power hitting prospect, would be flipped to the other side of the diamond once Lyle Overbay gets shipped off, which is a move that is expected to be imminent.

In order to make room for the new salary addition and replenish their prospect cupboard, the Phillies would then trade Cliff Lee to the Seattle Mariners for three prospects, two of which are Canadian. Phillippe Aumont, a closer and outfielder Tyson Gillies are both Canadian. Aumont hails from Hull, QC whil Gillies is from Langley B.C. The Mariners would also get right-hander Juan Ramirez.

For his part, Halladay agreed to a new three-year contract worth $60,000,000, which inclues a fourth-year vesting options based on innings pitched, also worth $20,000,000/year. It will likely include a no-trade clause.

Reports indicate that Alex Anthopolous had the option of acquiring either Gillies or Aumont, which would have made this a true four-team trade, but he preferred receiving catching prospect D'Arnaud. Neither J.P. Arencibia or Brian Jeroloman, both current Jays catching prospects, performed well in the minor leagues this past season.

General Managers involved in the trade negotiations for Roy Halladay have praised him for his strong negotiation skills and his keen sense of getting what he wants. It was his idea to involve multiple teams for the Jays to be able to aquire the prospects that he wanted. He was also the main cog in the contract of Aaron Hill, which allows the Jays to committ to Aaron long-term, but also gives them a posibility to commit to a shorter term should they not feel he's playing up to the contract.

Many fans feel that the Jays should not have paid $6,000,000 to the Phillies, however Alex Antopolous found the prospects that he wanted and essentially avoided paying signing bonuses that he would have paid had he drafted them.

Wallace has been on the Jays' radar for years. The Jays drafted a 17-year old Brett Wallace out of high school in the very late rounds of the 2005 draft (42nd round), and later attempted to draft him in the Brett Cecil draft, but the Phillies took Wallace. only a few spots before Cecil.

EDITOR'S NOTE There were reports that one of the prospects had failed his physical, however Jeff Blair of the Globe and Mail has stated this is not correct and the deal is set to be announced at 5PM. The Cliff Lee trade has already been finalized through the league and is official.

EDITOR'S NOTE The apparent hold-up was surrounding questions about Brett Wallace's shoulder, however the Jays received an MRI on him and are satisfied that there are no problems.

 Halladay Traded To Philadelphia?

Details are still being worked out but numerous reports have stated that the Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners and Philadelphia Phillies have a deal in the works that would send Roy Halladay to the Phillies and Cliff Lee would go to the Mariners while Toronto is in line to recieve prospects.

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 Huge day

It was a huge day for Toronto General Manager Alex Anthopolous, as he signed five players to contracts.

Less than 16 hours ago, the Jays had no catchers -- but now they have two, as Toronto has signed John Buck, recently non-tendered from Kansas City, to a one-year contract worth $2,000,000. At midnight tonight, the Royals decided that they did not want to offer Buck a contract, where he would be given at the very minimum $2,320,000, but the opportunity for more as the contract situation would have gone to arbitration unless they could come to terms. Luckily, Buck, 29, was able to come to terms with Toronto. He is known more for his defence and his ability to handle the pitching staff, but will hopefully provide some offence to a team that just might need it.

The Jays also signed both Joey Gathright and Raul Chavez to a one-year minor league contract with an invite to spring training, while signing Jose Bautista to a one-year, $2,400,000 contract, which represents a pay decrease of $50,000 over last year and Dustin McGowan to a one-year contract worth $500,000, which is the minimum he can earn given his service time.

 Speedway

Alex Anthololous was expected to leave Indianapolis, the site of baseball's annual winter meetings, but also the site of the Indy 500, empty handed. Instead, he was able to sign the speedy outfielder Joey Gathright to a contract, where it's expected he might end up playing time in the outfield between the big leagues and AAA.

Terms of the contract are to follow.

This news item has been proven to be false.

 Rod Barajas declines arbitration

Catcher Rod Barajas has declined arbitration, making him a free agent. Should another team sign him to a contract, the Jays will receive a compensatory draft pick.

 Joe Inglett the Ranger

The Texas Rangers have claimed Joe Inglett off of waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays.

 Shortstop Swap

The Toronto Blue Jays signed Alex Gonzalez, former Boston Red Sox shortstop on November 26th. One week later, the Boston Red Sox signed Marco Scutaro, former Toronto Blue Jays shortstop, to a two-year contract, where it is exected he will bat lead off.