B.J. Upton adds right-handed power to Braves' lineup

Jason Heyward was in the audience as B.J. Upton was introduced Thursday as Atlanta's new centerfielder.

That made manager Fredi Gonzalez smile as he realized he didn't have to worry so much about finding the third starter in his outfield.

"Shoot, we may not even need a left fielder," Gonzalez said. "With him playing centre and Jason, who just won a Gold Glove, in right, it's going to be fun watching these guys cover some ground in the outfield."

Upton was given a No. 2 Braves jersey after finalizing a $75.25 million, five-year contract — the biggest ever given a free agent by the franchise. He gets a $3 million signing bonus payable by Dec. 31 and salaries of $12.45 million next season, $13.45 million in 2014, $14.45 million in 2015, $15.45 million in 2016 and $16.45 million in 2017.

The 28-year-old spent his first eight big seasons with Tampa Bay. He hit .246 with 28 homers, 78 RBIs and 31 steals this year and replaces Michael Bourn in centre. He is not expected to fill Bourn's role as a leadoff hitter.

Braves general manager Frank Wren said adding a right-handed hitter gives more balance to a lineup that includes left-handed hitters Brian McCann, Freddie Freeman and Heyward. Wren said the right-handed power from a centerfielder made Upton especially attractive.

"It's one thing to have a leadoff hitter, which has been great for us, having that true leadoff hitter," Wren said, referring to Bourn. "We feel like we can find that or create that. But to get someone who can play centre field at [Upton's] calibre and can also hit 20 to 30 home runs, that's a different dimension. We felt like that would really add to our offence and make our offence deeper.

"We were so left-handed dominant over the last number of years," Wren added. "Now to be able to better balance our lineup left and right, that was something we felt could really enhance our team."

Shifting the infield

Martin Prado is expected to move from left field to replace the retired Chipper Jones at third base. Wren said he believes third base is Prado's best position, but he said Prado's versatility gives the team options during talks at next week's winter meetings.

"It narrows our focus a little more, whether it's leadoff or left field or that combination," Wren said. "Martin Prado can continue to play left field… and he can go to third base, so we have some flexibility with the way our roster is constructed."

Wren said internal options in the search for a new leadoff hitter include Prado and shortstop Andrelton Simmons, who hit .289 as a rookie.

Upton, also courted by Philadelphia, said he was won over when he visited the Braves on Nov. 15. Gonzalez, Wren and former manager Bobby Cox were part of the Braves' welcoming committee.

"I came in on that trip and really never felt like that before," Upton said. "They really made me feel like I was part of the Braves family. …Bobby was great. It feels like I've known him for years. These guys, they got me. There's no other way to put it. They had me when I came here and I left and I felt really good about it."

Upton's home run totals have increased in each of the last three seasons, but he has hit below .250 with more than 150 strikeouts in four straight years.

Upton said his goal is to hit "better than I've been the last three or four years."

Big expectations

"I expect a lot out of myself," he said. "I felt, yeah they were OK years, decent years, but I think I can be a lot better. Hopefully I can get the batting average up and cut down on the strikeouts and other than that continue to do what I'm doing."

Bourn hit .274 with 42 stolen bases this year but he had 155 strikeouts, almost as high as Upton's 169. The Braves believe Upton's big advantage in power over Bourn, who hit only nine homers, more than makes up for the additional strikeouts.

Wren said losing a first-round draft pick to Tampa Bay was not a factor because the team will gain a similar selection when Bourn signs elsewhere.

"The first-round pick we'll pick up for Bourn will be somewhere in the 26-to-30 range and we lost like the 26th pick," Wren said. "So it's negligible, probably within five picks of each other. It won't really be a difference at all. That's the projection we have now."

Heyward, who had 27 homers and 21 stolen bases this season, said adding a similar power-speed player in Upton is "awesome" for the team.

"He's able to do some things you have to worry about on the offensive and defensive side of the ball," Heyward said.

Upton won't be the only star in the Braves' lineup, but he'll be in the spotlight, thanks to the big contract.

"I hope there's no added pressure, but I've dealt with things like that in the past," he said. "I know what's expected of me. I won't put any added pressure on myself. I'll just go out and do what I can to help this team win."

Upton's parents and agent, Larry Reynolds, attended the news conference. Upton said his brother, Arizona outfielder Justin Upton, wanted to join the family but couldn't make travel arrangements.

B.J. Upton said playing with his brother "has been a big, big topic of conversation" for the two.

"Obviously he's under contract for three years," Upton said. "Is it a possibility? Yes. Is it going to happen? We don't know."

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New Blue Jay Mark Buehrle forecasts 'exciting' 2013 season

While it took a few days for the news to sink in, newly acquired left-hander Mark Buehrle said he's looking forward to the next stage of his career as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Buehrle, fellow starting pitcher Josh Johnson and all-star shortstop Jose Reyes were acquired by Toronto in a blockbuster trade with Miami earlier this month. General manager Alex Anthopoulos dramatically reshaped the roster with the 12-player deal along with the free-agent signings of outfielder Melky Cabrera and infielder Maicer Izturis.

Buehrle, who signed a $58 million US, four-year contract with the Marlins a year earlier, said he was not expecting to be dealt.

"I think it was just a shock and I think the next day or two was just a whirlwind," Buehrle said Thursday on a conference call. "I was just trying to just figure stuff out. Obviously having to do a move again and everything that's involved in switching teams. I think it was just craziness going on for a couple days."

The 33-year-old left-hander spent his first 12 big-league seasons with the Chicago White Sox before signing with Miami. He said the trade to Toronto has sunk in now and he has embraced the change with "open arms."

Buehrle said he's working with his wife — also an avid dog lover — on exploring options regarding his two-year-old pit bull, a rescue dog named Slater. Ontario has had a pit bull ban in place since 2005.

"I was joking around with my wife saying that they probably shouldn't let me in the country before they don't let my dog [in], because my dog is so loving and so awesome," he said.

"So we're working with some people that we know that do a lot of stuff with pit bulls and people up there in Canada. We're trying to work and do what we can do to try to get things resolved, but as of right now I don't know exactly what we're doing."

Recent moves have created a buzz

The Blue Jays' recent moves generated tremendous buzz in playoff-starved Toronto and signalled the team is ready to hang with the big boys in the tough American League East division. Anthopoulos also brought back former manager John Gibbons to succeed the departed John Farrell as skipper.

Johnson said he too was shocked to hear about the deal but is "extremely excited" to be joining the Blue Jays. He said that he was chatting about the lineup Wednesday night while out at a basketball game.

"I was just like, 'Wow, it's even better than when the trade first went through,"' Johnson said.

The former Marlins join a Toronto team that already has a solid nucleus in place with players like Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion, Brett Lawrie and J.P. Arencibia.

Buehrle said while the teams in the AL East are always challenging, he's impressed with the club's direction.

"You look at the team right now, you've got to like your chances of getting to the playoffs," he said.

Buehrle and Johnson should provide a significant upgrade to Toronto's starting rotation, which has been anchored by Brandon Morrow and Ricky Romero. Buehrle exceeded 200 innings for the 12th consecutive season this past year and went 13-13 with a 3.74 ERA.

He said he's always enjoyed his previous visits to Toronto, calling it one of his favourite baseball cities.

The Blue Jays also acquired catcher John Buck and infielder/outfielder Emilio Bonifacio and received cash in the Miami trade. In return, the Marlins got infielders Yunel Escobar and Adeiny Hechavarria, pitchers Henderson Alvarez, Anthony DeSclafani and Justin Nicolino, catcher Jeff Mathis and outfielder Jake Marisnick.

Significant increase in payroll

Toronto's payroll increased significantly with the deal. Buehrle has $52 million remaining on his deal, Johnson is owed $13.75 million in 2013 and Reyes has $96 million left on a contract that expires in 2018.

A six-foot-seven right-hander, Johnson led the National League with a 2.30 ERA in 2010. He was limited to nine starts in 2011 because of right shoulder inflammation.

The 28-year-old Johnson was 8-14 last season with a 3.81 ERA in 31 starts. The two-time all-star recorded 165 strikeouts with 65 walks in 191 1/3 innings.

"I'd say maybe the last 15 starts, I felt so much better than before," Johnson said. "I was kind of fighting myself, fighting my body, trying to do this or that, maybe trying to find a little bit more velocity. But once I relaxed and just trusted myself, it just kind of came out.

"I don't know if I was throwing any harder or anything like that. But you could tell with the depth that I had on my slider and my curve ball, and the location of my fastball got much, much better."

Johnson also said he talked with Buck — who played for the Blue Jays in 2010 — about what to expect in Toronto.

"Bucky said that it's an amazing place to play," Johnson said. "The fans are amazing, the coaching staff, all the way up to the front office. Everybody was amazing while he was there.

"And he said it shouldn't be any different."

Johnson said it "would be great" if Anthopoulos were to ask him about a contract extension. But he said his focus now is on preparation for the 2013 season.

"That's the last thing on my mind is worrying about getting an extension or how long I'm going to be there, it's more about winning," he said. "That's all I've been about since I started playing baseball. I'm all about winning, that's all I want to do. It makes everything better.

"It makes food taste better, it makes your wife happier, it makes your family happier. Everything is better when you're winning."

Toronto is coming off a disappointing campaign in 2012. The Blue Jays finished with a 73-89 record, good for a fourth-place finish in AL East.

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Vote: Would you send Bonds, Sosa or Clemens to the Hall of Fame?

Barry Bonds. Sammy Sosa. Roger Clemens.

Once upon a time, these players were unquestionably the best in Major League Baseball.

Today, those same names have been tainted with accusations of performance enhancing drug usage and conjure images of baseball's 'Steroid Era.'

These three players have posted some of the best stats in MLB history, but the accusations may keep them out of the Hall of Fame.

Who deserves to be in Cooperstown?

Some stats to consider from our friends at The Associated Press:

• Barry Bonds is baseball's all-time home runs leader with 762 and won a record seven MVP awards
• Roger Clemens ranks ninth in career wins with 354 and took home a record seven Cy Young Awards.
• Sammy Sosa is eighth on the home run chart with 609.

Many have weighed in on whether these three, or other players that made their names during the time when PEDs were running through the league, should be allowed access to Cooperstown, but we want to know what YOU think.

Which of these players should make it into the Hall? Should they all be in there? Should none of them? Let us know by voting in our poll and let us know why in the comment section below!

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Edwin Encarnacion named Blue Jays' player of the year

First baseman Edwin Encarnacion has been named the Blue Jays' player of the year and the team's most improved player by the Toronto chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

The 29-year-old Encarnacion had a breakout year in 2012, setting career highs in home runs (42), RBIs (110), walks (84) and stolen bases (13). He was rewarded with a $27-million US, three-year contract extension in July.

Casey Janssen earned pitcher of the year honours. The 31-year-old was thrust into the closer's role after an early season-ending injury to Sergio Santos, and the right-hander ran with it.

Janssen recorded 22 saves in 24 opportunities. He also posted a career high in strikeouts (67) and held opponents to a .195 average, also a career best.

Janssen recently underwent successful shoulder surgery on his throwing arm and is expected back for the start of training camp.

Left-hander Aaron Loup earned top rookie honours after posting a 2.64 earned-run average in 33 appearances.

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Vote: Would you send Bonds, Sosa or Clemens to the Hall of Fame?

Barry Bonds. Sammy Sosa. Roger Clemens.

Once upon a time, these players were unquestionably the best in Major League Baseball.

Today, those same names have been tainted with accusations of performance enhancing drug usage and conjure images of baseball's 'Steroid Era.'

These three players have posted some of the best stats in MLB history, but the accusations may keep them out of the Hall of Fame.

Who deserves to be in Cooperstown?

Some stats to consider from our friends at The Associated Press:

• Barry Bonds is baseball's all-time home runs leader with 762 and won a record seven MVP awards
• Roger Clemens ranks ninth in career wins with 354 and took home a record seven Cy Young Awards.
• Sammy Sosa is eighth on the home run chart with 609.

Many have weighed in on whether these three, or other players that made their names during the time when PEDs were running through the league, should be allowed access to Cooperstown, but we want to know what YOU think.

Which of these players should make it into the Hall? Should they all be in there? Should none of them? Let us know by voting in our poll and let us know why in the comment section below!

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Reds sign Jonathan Broxton to 3-year deal

The Reds signed Jonathan Broxton to a three-year, $21 million US contract on Wednesday, giving the NL Central champions a potential closer and a chance to reconfigure their starting rotation.

Broxton came to the Reds last July in a trade with Kansas City and was part of their push toward the playoffs. He filled in as the closer when Aroldis Chapman went down with a tired shoulder and had four saves in six chances overall with a 2.82 ERA, impressing the Reds.

Now, they have the option of turning Chapman into a starter, which was the plan last season until closer Ryan Madsen tore up his pitching elbow.

Broxton's deal pays him a $4 million base salary in 2013, $7 million in 2014 and $9 million in 2015. There's a club option for another year at $9 million with a $1 million buyout. He also got a limited no-trade provision.

Broxton gets to pick 10 teams each year that would be acceptable in a trade. If he's dealt, the club option becomes a mutual option and the buyout increases by $1 million.

It's Cincinnati's second big decision of the offseason. The Reds also brought back manager Dusty Baker on a two-year deal. Cincinnati also would like to upgrade its leadoff spot in the batting order.

The 28-year-old Broxton missed most of the 2011 season with the Dodgers because of a bone spur in his elbow that required surgery. He agreed to a $4 million, one-year deal with Kansas City last season, starting as a setup man for closer Joakim Soria. He assumed the closing role in March, when Soria had to have reconstructive elbow surgery.

Broxton had 23 saves in 27 chances for Kansas City. He was surprised when the Reds traded for him, looking to upgrade their setup situation as they closed in on the playoffs.

"He wanted to be in Kansas City long-term because he grew to like it there," agent B.B. Abbott said. "When he got to Cincinnati, he went with a little bit of a heavy heart. When he got there, he realized this is a pretty great place. He really liked Dusty and the guys in the clubhouse, and the front-office staff was tremendous. He and his wife and family thought in the back of their minds this might be a place to put down some roots."

Broxton talked to several teams about a multiyear deal before deciding to stick with the Reds, who expect to be a contender. Cincinnati has won the division two of the last three years, losing in the first round of the playoffs both times.

"He thinks this team is plugged in, is ready to win," Abbott said.

The Reds signed Madson as their closer a year ago, giving him a one-year contract for $8.5 million. There was a mutual option for 2013 at $11 million with a $2.5 million buyout. Madson blew out his elbow during spring training and chose to become a free agent under his buyout.

The Reds planned to use Chapman as a starter last season, seeing how his 100 mph fastball fared in his more accustomed role. When Madson got hurt along with Cincinnati's two setup relievers during spring training, the Reds moved Chapman to the bullpen and Baker eased him into the closing role.

Chapman saved 27 consecutive chances and was 38 of 43 overall in save opportunities with a 1.55 ERA in 68 appearances. The Reds are hoping to give him a chance to make the rotation next season.

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Blue Jays name 5 coaches under manager John Gibbons

Dwayne Murphy is part of the Toronto Blue Jays 2013 coaching staff, but former bench coach Don Wakamatsu and pitching coach Bruce Walton probably will need to find work elsewhere.

Murphy, who watched the team finish 14th among 30 major league teams in batting average in 2012 as its hitting coach, will shift to first base next season under new, er, old manager John Gibbons. He was also named outfield coach Monday.

Wakamatsu's name, which was bandied about during the recent manager search, was absent from a team news release of coaching additions. Walton was the team's pitching coach since 2010 after previouly serving as bullpen coach for seven-plus seasons. The bullpen coaching position has yet to be filled for the 2013 season.

DeMarlo Hale, who also was said to be in the manager mix, at least early in the process, joins the organization as bench coach while Chad Mottola has been promoted from AAA to serve as hitting coach. For the past two Septembers, he was called up to help Toronto hitters in the final month of the season.

Luis Rivera, whom the Blue Jays named a coaching assistant in November 2010, takes over from Brian Butterfield as third base coach. Butterfield and one-time first base coach Torey Lovullo followed manager John Farrell to Boston recently, the latter as bench coach.

Pete Walker is back, moving from bullpen coach to pitching coach. He began his tenure with the Jays organization in 2009 working with the clubs' rehabbing pitchers.

Hale, 51, brings 11 years of major league coaching experience to Toronto, most recently serving as bench coach in Baltimore in 2012.

After playing five seasons in the minors, he accepted his first coaching position in the Red Sox organization in 1992. Hale was also third base coach in Boston from 2006 through 2009 and bench coach for the 2010 and 2011 seasons.

Farrell favourite

Mottola was a favourite of Farrell, who added the 41-year-old to his staff the past two Septembers when each team is allowed to add one coach to the major league staff.

Mottola spent the past three seasons with the AAA Las Vegas 51s (now Buffalo Bisons) and annually spends the first part of spring training at major league camp in Dunedin, Fla.

"I know a lot of these guys from playing with them, from having them in the minor leagues," Mottola told the Toronto Star in September.

The Blue Jays recognized Mottola following the 2012 campaign with the Bobby Mattick Award for excellence in player development.

The former major league outfielder broke into coaching in 2008 as hitting coach of the Gulf Coast Blue Jays (rookie league). Mottola was roving minor league instructor the next season before joining Las Vegas.

Murphy, 57, returns for a sixth straight season and 10th in the organization. A six-time Gold Glove winner, the former centre-fielder will be responsible for outfield defence next season. He coached first base for Toronto in 2008 and 2009.

The 48-year-old Rivera joined the Blue Jays organization two years ago as manager of the AA New Hampshire Fisher Cats. A former major league infielder, he was the Cleveland Indians infield and first base coach for three seasons after coaching and managing in the organization from 2000 to 2005.

Gibbons was manager for two seasons during Walker's time pitching for Toronto from 2002 to 2003 and 2005-06. The 43-year-old Walker was the Jays bullpen coach last season.

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Baseball union legend Marvin Miller dies at 95

Marvin Miller, the union leader who created free agency for baseball players and revolutionized professional sports with multimillion dollar contracts, died Tuesday. He was 95.

Miller died at his home in Manhattan at 5:30 a.m., said his daughter Susan Miller. He had been diagnosed with liver cancer in August.

In his 16 years as executive director of the Major League Players' Association, starting in 1966, Miller fought owners on many fronts, winning free agency for the players in December 1975. He may best be remembered, however, as the man who made the word "strike" stand for something other than a pitched ball.

Miller, who retired and became a consultant to the union in 1982, led the first walkout in the game's history 10 years earlier. On April 5, 1972, signs posted at major league parks simply said "No Game Today." The strike, which lasted 13 days, was to be followed by a walkout during spring training in 1976 and a midseason job action that darkened the stadiums for seven weeks in 1981.

Miller's ascension to the top echelon among sports labor leaders was by no means free from controversy among those he would represent. Players from the Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, California Angels and San Francisco Giants opposed his appointment as successor to Milwaukee Circuit Court Judge Robert Cannon, who had counseled them on a part-time but unpaid basis.

Miller overcame the opposition, however, due in part to his demeanor. "Some of the player representatives were leery about picking a union man," Hall of Fame pitcher and U.S. Senator Jim Bunning, a member of the screening committee that recommended Miller, recalled in a 1974 interview. "But he was very articulate … not the cigar-chewing type some of the guys expected."

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Vote: Which Toronto team will win a championship next?

The Toronto Argonauts brought a much needed win to the capital of Ontario, long-starved for sports glory since…well, since the Argos last won the Grey Cup in 2004.

Next Toronto team to win a league title?

Since the Argos are the cream of the CFL crop this year, we want you to tell us which team you think will be the next from the 'Big Smoke' to win it all and your choices are as follows:

• The Toronto Blue Jays last won a World Series in 1993, meaning that next season will mark the 20th year since Major League Baseball's championship headed north of the 49th parallel. The Jays have made some drastic moves in the off-season, but will it pay off?
• The Toronto Raptors last made the playoffs in 2008, and since then they've lost their (arguably) franchise cornerstone in Chris Bosh, but have drafted high (Ed Davis, Jonas Valanciunas) and are putting more focus on team defence with new coach Dwayne Casey.
• The Toronto FC have yet to gain any momentum since joining Major League Soccer in 2007, failing to even qualify for the playoffs. However, the fledgling Vancouver Whitecaps are proof that Canadian teams can do battle with the best in the North American soccer league.
• The Toronto Maple Leafs. 1967. 'Nuff said?

There are your choices, ladies and gentlemen. Which of these Toronto-based clubs do you think will shake off their losing seasons first and goes all the way?

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New Jays' pitcher Mark Buehrle takes parting shot at Marlins

Mark Buehrle issued a parting shot at Miami Marlins' management after his stay with the team lasted only one tumultuous season.

The left-hander was part of the blockbuster trade that sent Buehrle, All-Star shortstop Jose Reyes, right-hander Josh Johnson and two other players to the Toronto Blue Jays as the Marlins pared $146.5 million US in future payroll.

"I'm upset with how things turned out in Miami," Buehrle said in a statement issued Wednesday through his agent, Jeff Berry. "Just like the fans in South Florida, I was lied to on multiple occasions. But I'm putting it behind me and looking forward to moving on with my career."

'Just like the fans in South Florida, I was lied to on multiple occasions. But I'm putting it behind me and looking forward to moving on with my career.'—New Jays pitcher Mark Buehrle

Team president David Samson said the Marlins didn't lie to Buehrle, but instead were compelled to make drastic changes after a disastrous season that included a last-place finish in their new ballpark.

"I'm as sorry as he is that he was traded," Samson said during his weekly radio show on WINZ-AM. "There was no way we could have envisioned what happened, both on and off the field."

Buehrle signed a $58 million, four-year deal with the Marlins during their unprecedented spending spree a year ago. Part of the lure was the chance to pitch again for Ozzie Guillen, who had been Buehrle's manager with the Chicago White Sox.

The Marlins then endured a disastrous first season in their new ballpark and finished last in the NL East at 69-93. Guillen was fired, and owner Jeffrey Loria ordered a dramatic reduction in payroll.

Berry said he and Buehrle were wary of signing with the Marlins because of their history of rapid roster turnover, and because of the team's longstanding policy against no-trade clauses.

"Throughout the recruiting process, the Marlins made repeated assurances about their long-term commitment to Mark and his family and their long-term commitment to building a winning tradition of Marlins baseball in the new stadium," Berry said in a statement.

"At the same time, given the Marlins history, we were all certainly aware of and voiced concern about the lack of no-trade protection. This is unquestionably a business, and signing with the Marlins was a calculated risk. Mark held up his end of the bargain; unfortunately, the same can't be said of the Marlins."

Buehrle was one of the few Miami players to perform up to expectations this year. He exceeded 200 innings for the 12th consecutive season and went 13-13 with a 3.74 ERA.

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Past dealings help Alex Anthopoulos move forward

In gushing Tuesday about the present Blue Jays lineup and potential for brighter days ahead, Alex Anthopoulos also shared some of what he has learned from his experiences in Toronto.

On a day the general manager brought back John Gibbons to be the 13th skipper in team history, and discussed a 12-player trade with the Miami Marlins that netted the Blue Jays five proven major leaguers, he remembered two player acquisitions from 2005 that didn't turn out well.

For his next move, Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos should:

During an eight-day span, the Blue Jays filled a couple of needs by signing closer B.J. Ryan to a five-year, $47-million US contract and fellow free agent, starting pitcher A.J. Burnett, to a five-year, $55-million pact. Toronto released Ryan in 2009 after he failed to return to form after elbow ligament replacement surgery while Burnett walked the same year as a free agent following three seasons of mixed results.

At the time, Anthopoulos was an assistant to GM J.P. Ricciardi, so he's well aware of the risk the Blue Jays took in rolling the dice on two big-name free agents.

"Those deals went until December and there were times that we could have potentially lost those deals," said Anthopoulos at Tuesday's 54-minute news conference. "I think ultimately we went to more years and more money [on Ryan and Burnett] than anybody else."

Had those deals fallen apart, the Jays would have been sitting empty-handed in the middle of the off-season, and presumably would have settled on a less attractive free agent.

Anthopoulos wanted no part of that this winter with Toronto coming off a 73-win season – one that many consider to be among the worst in franchise history – and needing to find a manager after John Farrell was released to fulfill his "dream job" in Boston.

Free agency an option

Sure, free agency was an option for Anthopoulos, but as he scoured the open market for starting pitchers, he said it was tough to pin down player agents on what their clients sought in terms of term and salary.

It also reminded Anthopoulos of the events that led to the Ryan and Burnett signings.

"I thought, do we keep our prospects, roll the dice that we can get one of these free agents without any certainty and any assurances?" he said. "Clubs have been used all the time with free agents and we could have absolutely fallen in the trap [of] thinking you're right there [close to a deal] and then you're the runner-up."

So, Anthopoulos did what he has preferred to do in his three seasons as a big-league GM. He went looking for a dance partner, or fellow GM, to make a deal.

"We try to stay out of the free-agent market. That trade avenue is a lifeline for us. You know exactly what you're going to get. You have a guarantee that you're going to get the players," Anthopoulos said. "And, with the impact this [Marlins trade] has on our payroll, it really allows for better planning. We have so much time left in the off-season."

In the end, Anthopoulos acquired starting pitchers Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle, all-star shortstop Jose Reyes, infielder/outfielder Emilio Bonafacio and catcher John Buck, whose most productive season at the plate came in 2010 with Toronto.

Heading to Miami is shortstop Yunel Escobar, pitcher Henderson Alvarez, catcher Jeff Mathis, infielder Adeiny Hechavarria and three prospects.

"It wasn't that we went into the off-season saying we need to make a 12-player trade," said Anthopoulos, who also confirmed the signing of free-agent outfielder Melky Cabrera to a two-year deal worth $16 million. "It would have been fine making a two-player trade if it was the right players. It just happened to [evolve into a bigger deal]."

Johnson the focus

The conversation began in early November with Marlins president Larry Beinfest at the GMs meetings in Indians Wells, Calif. Anthopoulos was only thinking about Johnson at the time, a 28-year-old right-hander who led the National League with a 2.30 earned-run average in 2010.

"When they [Miami] asked for some of our better young players at the GMs meetings, I said, 'Well, if we're going to have to be giving up some of our better young players we better try to go big here and really impact the club.' And if it's going to hurt [our long-term future] let's make sure that we really get some value back and some impact back and let's expand this. And Florida was willing to do that."

From Day 1, Blue Jays president and CEO Paul Beeston has told Anthopoulos that team ownership, Rogers Communications Inc., would make the money available for the right trade. Beeston told the GM to "stay on" the trade with Beinfest and he would make the necessary calls to get a deal done."

'He's one of the better GMs to deal with because he's such a straight shooter, no nonsense.'— Anthopoulos on Marlins GM Larry Beinfest

The trade talk grew to include Reyes and Buehrle before getting hung up on Bonafacio, who can play second base, shortstop, third and the outfield. The 27-year-old hit .258 in an injury plagued 2012 season but stole 30 bases in 64 games. In 2011, Bonafacio had a .393 on-base percentage in 152 contests.

Anthopoulos said the Mathis/Buck component was the last part of the trade and held up negotiations for an additional "five or six hours." He pointed to his relationship with Beinfest for the deal not falling apart.

"He's one of the better GMs to deal with," Anthopoulos said, "because he's such a straight shooter, no nonsense. "A number of years ago we talked about [second baseman] Dan Uggla in a trade and I had experiences dealing with Larry [then]. The one thing is [the Marlins] don't play games and you appreciate that as a GM.

"I think we were better equipped to move fast because I knew who I was dealing with on the other end. And I knew that they weren't going to start pulling back [players] and playing games. … Five, six days we got it done.

"I don't think there's a better example of the importance of our [scouting] and player development staff when it came to this trade."

Anthopoulos said the Blue Jays still have needs, citing more depth in the starting rotation, bullpen and from a position player standpoint "I think there are always areas to improve.

"Right now I feel good about the team," he added, "but you're not going to hear me make any grand statements about how much better we are."

Anthopoulos had stopped gushing. Well, until his next move.

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New Jays' pitcher Mark Buehrle takes parting shot at Marlins

Mark Buehrle issued a parting shot at Miami Marlins' management after his stay with the team lasted only one tumultuous season.

The left-hander was part of the blockbuster trade that sent Buehrle, All-Star shortstop Jose Reyes, right-hander Josh Johnson and two other players to the Toronto Blue Jays as the Marlins pared $146.5 million US in future payroll.

"I'm upset with how things turned out in Miami," Buehrle said in a statement issued Wednesday through his agent, Jeff Berry. "Just like the fans in South Florida, I was lied to on multiple occasions. But I'm putting it behind me and looking forward to moving on with my career."

'Just like the fans in South Florida, I was lied to on multiple occasions. But I'm putting it behind me and looking forward to moving on with my career.'—New Jays pitcher Mark Buehrle

Team president David Samson said the Marlins didn't lie to Buehrle, but instead were compelled to make drastic changes after a disastrous season that included a last-place finish in their new ballpark.

"I'm as sorry as he is that he was traded," Samson said during his weekly radio show on WINZ-AM. "There was no way we could have envisioned what happened, both on and off the field."

Buehrle signed a $58 million, four-year deal with the Marlins during their unprecedented spending spree a year ago. Part of the lure was the chance to pitch again for Ozzie Guillen, who had been Buehrle's manager with the Chicago White Sox.

The Marlins then endured a disastrous first season in their new ballpark and finished last in the NL East at 69-93. Guillen was fired, and owner Jeffrey Loria ordered a dramatic reduction in payroll.

Berry said he and Buehrle were wary of signing with the Marlins because of their history of rapid roster turnover, and because of the team's longstanding policy against no-trade clauses.

"Throughout the recruiting process, the Marlins made repeated assurances about their long-term commitment to Mark and his family and their long-term commitment to building a winning tradition of Marlins baseball in the new stadium," Berry said in a statement.

"At the same time, given the Marlins history, we were all certainly aware of and voiced concern about the lack of no-trade protection. This is unquestionably a business, and signing with the Marlins was a calculated risk. Mark held up his end of the bargain; unfortunately, the same can't be said of the Marlins."

Buehrle was one of the few Miami players to perform up to expectations this year. He exceeded 200 innings for the 12th consecutive season and went 13-13 with a 3.74 ERA.

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Past dealings help Alex Anthopoulos move forward

In gushing Tuesday about the present Blue Jays lineup and potential for brighter days ahead, Alex Anthopoulos also shared some of what he has learned from his experiences in Toronto.

On a day the general manager brought back John Gibbons to be the 13th skipper in team history, and discussed a 12-player trade with the Miami Marlins that netted the Blue Jays five proven major leaguers, he remembered two player acquisitions from 2005 that didn't turn out well.

For his next move, Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos should:

During an eight-day span, the Blue Jays filled a couple of needs by signing closer B.J. Ryan to a five-year, $47-million US contract and fellow free agent, starting pitcher A.J. Burnett, to a five-year, $55-million pact. Toronto released Ryan in 2009 after he failed to return to form after elbow ligament replacement surgery while Burnett walked the same year as a free agent following three seasons of mixed results.

At the time, Anthopoulos was an assistant to GM J.P. Ricciardi, so he's well aware of the risk the Blue Jays took in rolling the dice on two big-name free agents.

"Those deals went until December and there were times that we could have potentially lost those deals," said Anthopoulos at Tuesday's 54-minute news conference. "I think ultimately we went to more years and more money [on Ryan and Burnett] than anybody else."

Had those deals fallen apart, the Jays would have been sitting empty-handed in the middle of the off-season, and presumably would have settled on a less attractive free agent.

Anthopoulos wanted no part of that this winter with Toronto coming off a 73-win season – one that many consider to be among the worst in franchise history – and needing to find a manager after John Farrell was released to fulfill his "dream job" in Boston.

Free agency an option

Sure, free agency was an option for Anthopoulos, but as he scoured the open market for starting pitchers, he said it was tough to pin down player agents on what their clients sought in terms of term and salary.

It also reminded Anthopoulos of the events that led to the Ryan and Burnett signings.

"I thought, do we keep our prospects, roll the dice that we can get one of these free agents without any certainty and any assurances?" he said. "Clubs have been used all the time with free agents and we could have absolutely fallen in the trap [of] thinking you're right there [close to a deal] and then you're the runner-up."

So, Anthopoulos did what he has preferred to do in his three seasons as a big-league GM. He went looking for a dance partner, or fellow GM, to make a deal.

"We try to stay out of the free-agent market. That trade avenue is a lifeline for us. You know exactly what you're going to get. You have a guarantee that you're going to get the players," Anthopoulos said. "And, with the impact this [Marlins trade] has on our payroll, it really allows for better planning. We have so much time left in the off-season."

In the end, Anthopoulos acquired starting pitchers Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle, all-star shortstop Jose Reyes, infielder/outfielder Emilio Bonafacio and catcher John Buck, whose most productive season at the plate came in 2010 with Toronto.

Heading to Miami is shortstop Yunel Escobar, pitcher Henderson Alvarez, catcher Jeff Mathis, infielder Adeiny Hechavarria and three prospects.

"It wasn't that we went into the off-season saying we need to make a 12-player trade," said Anthopoulos, who also confirmed the signing of free-agent outfielder Melky Cabrera to a two-year deal worth $16 million. "It would have been fine making a two-player trade if it was the right players. It just happened to [evolve into a bigger deal]."

Johnson the focus

The conversation began in early November with Marlins president Larry Beinfest at the GMs meetings in Indians Wells, Calif. Anthopoulos was only thinking about Johnson at the time, a 28-year-old right-hander who led the National League with a 2.30 earned-run average in 2010.

"When they [Miami] asked for some of our better young players at the GMs meetings, I said, 'Well, if we're going to have to be giving up some of our better young players we better try to go big here and really impact the club.' And if it's going to hurt [our long-term future] let's make sure that we really get some value back and some impact back and let's expand this. And Florida was willing to do that."

From Day 1, Blue Jays president and CEO Paul Beeston has told Anthopoulos that team ownership, Rogers Communications Inc., would make the money available for the right trade. Beeston told the GM to "stay on" the trade with Beinfest and he would make the necessary calls to get a deal done."

'He's one of the better GMs to deal with because he's such a straight shooter, no nonsense.'— Anthopoulos on Marlins GM Larry Beinfest

The trade talk grew to include Reyes and Buehrle before getting hung up on Bonafacio, who can play second base, shortstop, third and the outfield. The 27-year-old hit .258 in an injury plagued 2012 season but stole 30 bases in 64 games. In 2011, Bonafacio had a .393 on-base percentage in 152 contests.

Anthopoulos said the Mathis/Buck component was the last part of the trade and held up negotiations for an additional "five or six hours." He pointed to his relationship with Beinfest for the deal not falling apart.

"He's one of the better GMs to deal with," Anthopoulos said, "because he's such a straight shooter, no nonsense. "A number of years ago we talked about [second baseman] Dan Uggla in a trade and I had experiences dealing with Larry [then]. The one thing is [the Marlins] don't play games and you appreciate that as a GM.

"I think we were better equipped to move fast because I knew who I was dealing with on the other end. And I knew that they weren't going to start pulling back [players] and playing games. … Five, six days we got it done.

"I don't think there's a better example of the importance of our [scouting] and player development staff when it came to this trade."

Anthopoulos said the Blue Jays still have needs, citing more depth in the starting rotation, bullpen and from a position player standpoint "I think there are always areas to improve.

"Right now I feel good about the team," he added, "but you're not going to hear me make any grand statements about how much better we are."

Anthopoulos had stopped gushing. Well, until his next move.

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New Jays' pitcher Mark Buehrle takes parting shot at Marlins

Mark Buehrle issued a parting shot at Miami Marlins' management after his stay with the team lasted only one tumultuous season.

The left-hander was part of the blockbuster trade that sent Buehrle, All-Star shortstop Jose Reyes, right-hander Josh Johnson and two other players to the Toronto Blue Jays as the Marlins pared $146.5 million US in future payroll.

"I'm upset with how things turned out in Miami," Buehrle said in a statement issued Wednesday through his agent, Jeff Berry. "Just like the fans in South Florida, I was lied to on multiple occasions. But I'm putting it behind me and looking forward to moving on with my career."

'Just like the fans in South Florida, I was lied to on multiple occasions. But I'm putting it behind me and looking forward to moving on with my career.'—New Jays pitcher Mark Buehrle

Team president David Samson said the Marlins didn't lie to Buehrle, but instead were compelled to make drastic changes after a disastrous season that included a last-place finish in their new ballpark.

"I'm as sorry as he is that he was traded," Samson said during his weekly radio show on WINZ-AM. "There was no way we could have envisioned what happened, both on and off the field."

Buehrle signed a $58 million, four-year deal with the Marlins during their unprecedented spending spree a year ago. Part of the lure was the chance to pitch again for Ozzie Guillen, who had been Buehrle's manager with the Chicago White Sox.

The Marlins then endured a disastrous first season in their new ballpark and finished last in the NL East at 69-93. Guillen was fired, and owner Jeffrey Loria ordered a dramatic reduction in payroll.

Berry said he and Buehrle were wary of signing with the Marlins because of their history of rapid roster turnover, and because of the team's longstanding policy against no-trade clauses.

"Throughout the recruiting process, the Marlins made repeated assurances about their long-term commitment to Mark and his family and their long-term commitment to building a winning tradition of Marlins baseball in the new stadium," Berry said in a statement.

"At the same time, given the Marlins history, we were all certainly aware of and voiced concern about the lack of no-trade protection. This is unquestionably a business, and signing with the Marlins was a calculated risk. Mark held up his end of the bargain; unfortunately, the same can't be said of the Marlins."

Buehrle was one of the few Miami players to perform up to expectations this year. He exceeded 200 innings for the 12th consecutive season and went 13-13 with a 3.74 ERA.

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Past dealings help Alex Anthopoulos move forward

In gushing Tuesday about the present Blue Jays lineup and potential for brighter days ahead, Alex Anthopoulos also shared some of what he has learned from his experiences in Toronto.

On a day the general manager brought back John Gibbons to be the 13th skipper in team history, and discussed a 12-player trade with the Miami Marlins that netted the Blue Jays five proven major leaguers, he remembered two player acquisitions from 2005 that didn't turn out well.

For his next move, Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos should:

During an eight-day span, the Blue Jays filled a couple of needs by signing closer B.J. Ryan to a five-year, $47-million US contract and fellow free agent, starting pitcher A.J. Burnett, to a five-year, $55-million pact. Toronto released Ryan in 2009 after he failed to return to form after elbow ligament replacement surgery while Burnett walked the same year as a free agent following three seasons of mixed results.

At the time, Anthopoulos was an assistant to GM J.P. Ricciardi, so he's well aware of the risk the Blue Jays took in rolling the dice on two big-name free agents.

"Those deals went until December and there were times that we could have potentially lost those deals," said Anthopoulos at Tuesday's 54-minute news conference. "I think ultimately we went to more years and more money [on Ryan and Burnett] than anybody else."

Had those deals fallen apart, the Jays would have been sitting empty-handed in the middle of the off-season, and presumably would have settled on a less attractive free agent.

Anthopoulos wanted no part of that this winter with Toronto coming off a 73-win season – one that many consider to be among the worst in franchise history – and needing to find a manager after John Farrell was released to fulfill his "dream job" in Boston.

Free agency an option

Sure, free agency was an option for Anthopoulos, but as he scoured the open market for starting pitchers, he said it was tough to pin down player agents on what their clients sought in terms of term and salary.

It also reminded Anthopoulos of the events that led to the Ryan and Burnett signings.

"I thought, do we keep our prospects, roll the dice that we can get one of these free agents without any certainty and any assurances?" he said. "Clubs have been used all the time with free agents and we could have absolutely fallen in the trap [of] thinking you're right there [close to a deal] and then you're the runner-up."

So, Anthopoulos did what he has preferred to do in his three seasons as a big-league GM. He went looking for a dance partner, or fellow GM, to make a deal.

"We try to stay out of the free-agent market. That trade avenue is a lifeline for us. You know exactly what you're going to get. You have a guarantee that you're going to get the players," Anthopoulos said. "And, with the impact this [Marlins trade] has on our payroll, it really allows for better planning. We have so much time left in the off-season."

In the end, Anthopoulos acquired starting pitchers Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle, all-star shortstop Jose Reyes, infielder/outfielder Emilio Bonafacio and catcher John Buck, whose most productive season at the plate came in 2010 with Toronto.

Heading to Miami is shortstop Yunel Escobar, pitcher Henderson Alvarez, catcher Jeff Mathis, infielder Adeiny Hechavarria and three prospects.

"It wasn't that we went into the off-season saying we need to make a 12-player trade," said Anthopoulos, who also confirmed the signing of free-agent outfielder Melky Cabrera to a two-year deal worth $16 million. "It would have been fine making a two-player trade if it was the right players. It just happened to [evolve into a bigger deal]."

Johnson the focus

The conversation began in early November with Marlins president Larry Beinfest at the GMs meetings in Indians Wells, Calif. Anthopoulos was only thinking about Johnson at the time, a 28-year-old right-hander who led the National League with a 2.30 earned-run average in 2010.

"When they [Miami] asked for some of our better young players at the GMs meetings, I said, 'Well, if we're going to have to be giving up some of our better young players we better try to go big here and really impact the club.' And if it's going to hurt [our long-term future] let's make sure that we really get some value back and some impact back and let's expand this. And Florida was willing to do that."

From Day 1, Blue Jays president and CEO Paul Beeston has told Anthopoulos that team ownership, Rogers Communications Inc., would make the money available for the right trade. Beeston told the GM to "stay on" the trade with Beinfest and he would make the necessary calls to get a deal done."

'He's one of the better GMs to deal with because he's such a straight shooter, no nonsense.'— Anthopoulos on Marlins GM Larry Beinfest

The trade talk grew to include Reyes and Buehrle before getting hung up on Bonafacio, who can play second base, shortstop, third and the outfield. The 27-year-old hit .258 in an injury plagued 2012 season but stole 30 bases in 64 games. In 2011, Bonafacio had a .393 on-base percentage in 152 contests.

Anthopoulos said the Mathis/Buck component was the last part of the trade and held up negotiations for an additional "five or six hours." He pointed to his relationship with Beinfest for the deal not falling apart.

"He's one of the better GMs to deal with," Anthopoulos said, "because he's such a straight shooter, no nonsense. "A number of years ago we talked about [second baseman] Dan Uggla in a trade and I had experiences dealing with Larry [then]. The one thing is [the Marlins] don't play games and you appreciate that as a GM.

"I think we were better equipped to move fast because I knew who I was dealing with on the other end. And I knew that they weren't going to start pulling back [players] and playing games. … Five, six days we got it done.

"I don't think there's a better example of the importance of our [scouting] and player development staff when it came to this trade."

Anthopoulos said the Blue Jays still have needs, citing more depth in the starting rotation, bullpen and from a position player standpoint "I think there are always areas to improve.

"Right now I feel good about the team," he added, "but you're not going to hear me make any grand statements about how much better we are."

Anthopoulos had stopped gushing. Well, until his next move.

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Glew: John Gibbons is gutsy hire for Blue Jays GM

Given what Toronto Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos was seeking in manager, settling on John Gibbons is perceived as more of a gutsy choice than an inspired one.

In hindsight, John Gibbons seems like an obvious choice to manage the Toronto Blue Jays in 2013.

Earlier this off-season, Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos had indicated that he was looking for a manager that he knew he could work with and who wanted to be in Toronto. It also became clear that he was seeking someone with previous major-league experience.

Names like Mike Hargrove, Manny Acta, Jim Tracy and Jim Riggleman were being tossed around, but it should have dawned on us that Gibbons, who managed the Jays for parts of five seasons from 2004 to 2008, would be a prime candidate.

The 50-year-old San Antonio, Texas, native, who formed a friendship with Anthopoulos during his first tenure with the Jays, was introduced as the club's new manager at a press conference at the Rogers Centre on Tuesday morning.

Last season, Gibbons, who was also a first-base coach with the Jays in 2002 and 2003, managed the double-A San Antonio Missions in the San Diego Padres organization following three seasons as the Kansas City Royals bench coach. Gibbons becomes the second manager, joining Cito Gaston, to have two tenures with the Jays.

Judging by the reaction on social media, Jays fans energized by the club's 12-player blockbuster trade with the Miami Marlins and the Melky Cabrera signing are underwhelmed with the hire. They point to Gibbons' middling 305-305 record and to the fact that he hasn't managed in the big leagues since he guided an underperforming Jays squad to a 35-39 record to start the 2008 campaign.

Unfortunately, fans best remember Gibbons for two incidents in 2006. The first came on July 19, when disgruntled designated hitter Shea Hillenbrand wrote "This ship is sinking" and "Play for yourself" on a display board in the clubhouse to describe his feelings about the team. Gibbons reportedly confronted Hillenbrand and challenged him to a fight. Three days later, Hillenbrand was traded to the San Francisco Giants.

On August 21 of that same season, Jays starter Ted Lilly had been staked to 8-0 lead, but after he surrendered five runs in the third inning, Gibbons made his way to the mound to pull him. Lilly initially wouldn't give him the ball and, after the left-hander begrudgingly walked off the field, Gibbons followed him into the clubhouse tunnel, where they engaged in a shoving match.

In Tuesday's press conference, Gibbons said he regretted those actions and that there was no place for physical contact with his players. Interestingly, Anthopoulos defended his manager, saying he had no problem with the way Gibbons handled those incidents.

These incidents tend to cloud the fact that Gibbons guided the Jays to an 87-75 record and a second-place finish in the American League East that season, the only time the club has finished that high since winning the World Series in 1993.

Firm but fatherly

Despite those confrontations, players generally loved playing for Gibbons and his firm but fatherly presence earned him respect in the clubhouse and from management. His actions in the Hillenbrand and Lilly incidents and his decision to bench slumping future Hall of Famer Frank Thomas in April 2008 show that he's not to afraid to hold players accountable -- something John Farrell was criticized for not doing in 2012.

As Anthopoulos said repeatedly during Tuesday's press conference, Gibbons is also excellent at managing a bullpen. During his first term in Toronto, he coaxed career seasons out of relievers B.J. Ryan, Jeremy Accardo, Scott Downs and Justin Speier. He also implemented successful platoons with several of his position players. The duo of Frank Catalanotto and Reed Johnson, for example, formed one of the most productive left-field combinations in baseball. Gregg Zaun and Bengie Molina also excelled sharing duties behind the plate.

In his first tenure with the Jays, Gibbons also gained valuable experience working with both young and veteran-laden clubs, so he learned when to teach and when to get out of the way. This will come in handy with the mixture of veterans and youngsters on the club next season. And with a roster that includes stolen base threats like Jose Reyes, Emilio Bonifacio, Brett Lawrie, Rajai Davis and Maicer Izturis, Gibbons said that he won't be afraid to run next season, but he added that his players won't run recklessly -- a problem for the Jays in 2012.

Shades of 2005

This off-season is starting to feel similar to the 2005 off-season. With Gibbons heading into his third season as dugout boss, then-Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi opened up Rogers' wallet to sign big-ticket free agents A.J. Burnett and Ryan and traded for first baseman Lyle Overbay and third baseman Troy Glaus.

Expectations were high for the Jays heading into 2006 and, saddled with that pressure, Gibbons guided the club to that respectable second-place finish. With the addition of two potential ace starters in Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle, baseball's best leadoff hitter in Reyes and the National League's leading hitter in Melky Cabrera, Gibbons will once again be expected to lead the Jays into contention. He seemed to welcome these expectations at the press conference on Tuesday.

Given the field of candidates available and the criteria that Anthopoulos was looking for in a manager, we shouldn't have been surprised that Gibbons was a prime candidate. This is a gutsy hire by Anthopoulos. Gibbons may seem like an uninspired choice, but once you get past the incidents with Hillenbrand and Lilly and look at his assets and experience, he actually seems like a pretty good choice to lead the Jays back into contention.

Back to accessibility links

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Past dealings help Alex Anthopoulos move forward

In gushing Tuesday about the present Blue Jays lineup and potential for brighter days ahead, Alex Anthopoulos also shared some of what he has learned from his experiences in Toronto.

On a day the general manager brought back John Gibbons to be the 13th skipper in team history, and discussed a 12-player trade with the Miami Marlins that netted the Blue Jays five proven major leaguers, he remembered two player acquisitions from 2005 that didn't turn out well.

For his next move, Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos should:

During an eight-day span, the Blue Jays filled a couple of needs by signing closer B.J. Ryan to a five-year, $47-million US contract and fellow free agent, starting pitcher A.J. Burnett, to a five-year, $55-million pact. Toronto released Ryan in 2009 after he failed to return to form after elbow ligament replacement surgery while Burnett walked the same year as a free agent following three seasons of mixed results.

At the time, Anthopoulos was an assistant to GM J.P. Ricciardi, so he's well aware of the risk the Blue Jays took in rolling the dice on two big-name free agents.

"Those deals went until December and there were times that we could have potentially lost those deals," said Anthopoulos at Tuesday's 54-minute news conference. "I think ultimately we went to more years and more money [on Ryan and Burnett] than anybody else."

Had those deals fallen apart, the Jays would have been sitting empty-handed in the middle of the off-season, and presumably would have settled on a less attractive free agent.

Anthopoulos wanted no part of that this winter with Toronto coming off a 73-win season – one that many consider to be among the worst in franchise history – and needing to find a manager after John Farrell was released to fulfill his "dream job" in Boston.

Free agency an option

Sure, free agency was an option for Anthopoulos, but as he scoured the open market for starting pitchers, he said it was tough to pin down player agents on what their clients sought in terms of term and salary.

It also reminded Anthopoulos of the events that led to the Ryan and Burnett signings.

"I thought, do we keep our prospects, roll the dice that we can get one of these free agents without any certainty and any assurances?" he said. "Clubs have been used all the time with free agents and we could have absolutely fallen in the trap [of] thinking you're right there [close to a deal] and then you're the runner-up."

So, Anthopoulos did what he has preferred to do in his three seasons as a big-league GM. He went looking for a dance partner, or fellow GM, to make a deal.

"We try to stay out of the free-agent market. That trade avenue is a lifeline for us. You know exactly what you're going to get. You have a guarantee that you're going to get the players," Anthopoulos said. "And, with the impact this [Marlins trade] has on our payroll, it really allows for better planning. We have so much time left in the off-season."

In the end, Anthopoulos acquired starting pitchers Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle, all-star shortstop Jose Reyes, infielder/outfielder Emilio Bonafacio and catcher John Buck, whose most productive season at the plate came in 2010 with Toronto.

Heading to Miami is shortstop Yunel Escobar, pitcher Henderson Alvarez, catcher Jeff Mathis, infielder Adeiny Hechavarria and three prospects.

"It wasn't that we went into the off-season saying we need to make a 12-player trade," said Anthopoulos, who also confirmed the signing of free-agent outfielder Melky Cabrera to a two-year deal worth $16 million. "It would have been fine making a two-player trade if it was the right players. It just happened to [evolve into a bigger deal]."

Johnson the focus

The conversation began in early November with Marlins GM Larry Beinfest at the GMs meetings in Indians Wells, Calif. Anthopoulos was only thinking about Johnson at the time, a 28-year-old right-hander who led the National League with a 2.30 earned-run average in 2010.

"When they [Miami] asked for some of our better young players at the GMs meetings, I said, 'Well, if we're going to have to be giving up some of our better young players we better try to go big here and really impact the club.' And if it's going to hurt [our long-term future] let's make sure that we really get some value back and some impact back and let's expand this. And Florida was willing to do that."

From Day 1, Blue Jays president and CEO Paul Beeston has told Anthopoulos that team ownership, Rogers Communications Inc., would make the money available for the right trade. Beeston told the GM to "stay on" the trade with Beinfest and he would make the necessary calls to get a deal done."

'He's one of the better GMs to deal with because he's such a straight shooter, no nonsense.'— Anthopoulos on Marlins GM Larry Beinfest

The trade talk grew to include Reyes and Buehrle before getting hung up on Bonafacio, who can play second base, shortstop, third and the outfield. The 27-year-old hit .258 in an injury plagued 2012 season but stole 30 bases in 64 games. In 2011, Bonafacio had a .393 on-base percentage in 152 contests.

Anthopoulos said the Mathis/Buck component was the last part of the trade and held up negotiations for an additional "five or six hours." He pointed to his relationship with Beinfest for the deal not falling apart.

"He's one of the better GMs to deal with," Anthopoulos said, "because he's such a straight shooter, no nonsense. "A number of years ago we talked about [second baseman] Dan Uggla in a trade and I had experiences dealing with Larry [then]. The one thing is [the Marlins] don't play games and you appreciate that as a GM.

"I think we were better equipped to move fast because I knew who I was dealing with on the other end. And I knew that they weren't going to start pulling back [players] and playing games. … Five, six days we got it done.

"I don't think there's a better example of the importance of our [scouting] and player development staff when it came to this trade."

Anthopoulos said the Blue Jays still have needs, citing more depth in the starting rotation, bullpen and from a position player standpoint "I think there are always areas to improve.

"Right now I feel good about the team," he added, "but you're not going to hear me make any grand statements about how much better we are."

Anthopoulos had stopped gushing. Well, until his next move.

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Glew: John Gibbons is gutsy hire for Blue Jays GM

Given what Toronto Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos was seeking in manager, settling on John Gibbons is perceived as more of a gutsy choice than an inspired one.

In hindsight, John Gibbons seems like an obvious choice to manage the Toronto Blue Jays in 2013.

Earlier this off-season, Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos had indicated that he was looking for a manager that he knew he could work with and who wanted to be in Toronto. It also became clear that he was seeking someone with previous major-league experience.

Names like Mike Hargrove, Manny Acta, Jim Tracy and Jim Riggleman were being tossed around, but it should have dawned on us that Gibbons, who managed the Jays for parts of five seasons from 2004 to 2008, would be a prime candidate.

The 50-year-old San Antonio, Texas, native, who formed a friendship with Anthopoulos during his first tenure with the Jays, was introduced as the club's new manager at a press conference at the Rogers Centre on Tuesday morning.

Last season, Gibbons, who was also a first-base coach with the Jays in 2002 and 2003, managed the double-A San Antonio Missions in the San Diego Padres organization following three seasons as the Kansas City Royals bench coach. Gibbons becomes the second manager, joining Cito Gaston, to have two tenures with the Jays.

Judging by the reaction on social media, Jays fans energized by the club's 12-player blockbuster trade with the Miami Marlins and the Melky Cabrera signing are underwhelmed with the hire. They point to Gibbons' middling 305-305 record and to the fact that he hasn't managed in the big leagues since he guided an underperforming Jays squad to a 35-39 record to start the 2008 campaign.

Unfortunately, fans best remember Gibbons for two incidents in 2006. The first came on July 19, when disgruntled designated hitter Shea Hillenbrand wrote "This ship is sinking" and "Play for yourself" on a display board in the clubhouse to describe his feelings about the team. Gibbons reportedly confronted Hillenbrand and challenged him to a fight. Three days later, Hillenbrand was traded to the San Francisco Giants.

On August 21 of that same season, Jays starter Ted Lilly had been staked to 8-0 lead, but after he surrendered five runs in the third inning, Gibbons made his way to the mound to pull him. Lilly initially wouldn't give him the ball and, after the left-hander begrudgingly walked off the field, Gibbons followed him into the clubhouse tunnel, where they engaged in a shoving match.

In Tuesday's press conference, Gibbons said he regretted those actions and that there was no place for physical contact with his players. Interestingly, Anthopoulos defended his manager, saying he had no problem with the way Gibbons handled those incidents.

These incidents tend to cloud the fact that Gibbons guided the Jays to an 87-75 record and a second-place finish in the American League East that season, the only time the club has finished that high since winning the World Series in 1993.

Firm but fatherly

Despite those confrontations, players generally loved playing for Gibbons and his firm but fatherly presence earned him respect in the clubhouse and from management. His actions in the Hillenbrand and Lilly incidents and his decision to bench slumping future Hall of Famer Frank Thomas in April 2008 show that he's not to afraid to hold players accountable -- something John Farrell was criticized for not doing in 2012.

As Anthopoulos said repeatedly during Tuesday's press conference, Gibbons is also excellent at managing a bullpen. During his first term in Toronto, he coaxed career seasons out of relievers B.J. Ryan, Jeremy Accardo, Scott Downs and Justin Speier. He also implemented successful platoons with several of his position players. The duo of Frank Catalanotto and Reed Johnson, for example, formed one of the most productive left-field combinations in baseball. Gregg Zaun and Bengie Molina also excelled sharing duties behind the plate.

In his first tenure with the Jays, Gibbons also gained valuable experience working with both young and veteran-laden clubs, so he learned when to teach and when to get out of the way. This will come in handy with the mixture of veterans and youngsters on the club next season. And with a roster that includes stolen base threats like Jose Reyes, Emilio Bonifacio, Brett Lawrie, Rajai Davis and Maicer Izturis, Gibbons said that he won't be afraid to run next season, but he added that his players won't run recklessly -- a problem for the Jays in 2012.

Shades of 2005

This off-season is starting to feel similar to the 2005 off-season. With Gibbons heading into his third season as dugout boss, then-Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi opened up Rogers' wallet to sign big-ticket free agents A.J. Burnett and Ryan and traded for first baseman Lyle Overbay and third baseman Troy Glaus.

Expectations were high for the Jays heading into 2006 and, saddled with that pressure, Gibbons guided the club to that respectable second-place finish. With the addition of two potential ace starters in Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle, baseball's best leadoff hitter in Reyes and the National League's leading hitter in Melky Cabrera, Gibbons will once again be expected to lead the Jays into contention. He seemed to welcome these expectations at the press conference on Tuesday.

Given the field of candidates available and the criteria that Anthopoulos was looking for in a manager, we shouldn't have been surprised that Gibbons was a prime candidate. This is a gutsy hire by Anthopoulos. Gibbons may seem like an uninspired choice, but once you get past the incidents with Hillenbrand and Lilly and look at his assets and experience, he actually seems like a pretty good choice to lead the Jays back into contention.

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Past dealings help Alex Anthopoulos move forward

In gushing Tuesday about the present Blue Jays lineup and potential for brighter days ahead, Alex Anthopoulos also shared some of what he has learned from his experiences in Toronto.

On a day the general manager brought back John Gibbons to be the 13th skipper in team history, and discussed a 12-player trade with the Miami Marlins that netted the Blue Jays five proven major leaguers, he remembered two player acquisitions from 2005 that didn't turn out well.

For his next move, Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos should:

During an eight-day span, the Blue Jays filled a couple of needs by signing closer B.J. Ryan to a five-year, $47-million US contract and fellow free agent, starting pitcher A.J. Burnett, to a five-year, $55-million pact. Toronto released Ryan in 2009 after he failed to return to form after elbow ligament replacement surgery while Burnett walked the same year as a free agent following three seasons of mixed results.

At the time, Anthopoulos was an assistant to GM J.P. Ricciardi, so he's well aware of the risk the Blue Jays took in rolling the dice on two big-name free agents.

"Those deals went until December and there were times that we could have potentially lost those deals," said Anthopoulos at Tuesday's 54-minute news conference. "I think ultimately we went to more years and more money [on Ryan and Burnett] than anybody else."

Had those deals fallen apart, the Jays would have been sitting empty-handed in the middle of the off-season, and presumably would have settled on a less attractive free agent.

Anthopoulos wanted no part of that this winter with Toronto coming off a 73-win season – one that many consider to be among the worst in franchise history – and needing to find a manager after John Farrell was released to fulfill his "dream job" in Boston.

Free agency an option

Sure, free agency was an option for Anthopoulos, but as he scoured the open market for starting pitchers, he said it was tough to pin down player agents on what their clients sought in terms of term and salary.

It also reminded Anthopoulos of the events that led to the Ryan and Burnett signings.

"I thought, do we keep our prospects, roll the dice that we can get one of these free agents without any certainty and any assurances?" he said. "Clubs have been used all the time with free agents and we could have absolutely fallen in the trap [of] thinking you're right there [close to a deal] and then you're the runner-up."

So, Anthopoulos did what he has preferred to do in his three seasons as a big-league GM. He went looking for a dance partner, or fellow GM, to make a deal.

"We try to stay out of the free-agent market. That trade avenue is a lifeline for us. You know exactly what you're going to get. You have a guarantee that you're going to get the players," Anthopoulos said. "And, with the impact this [Marlins trade] has on our payroll, it really allows for better planning. We have so much time left in the off-season."

In the end, Anthopoulos acquired starting pitchers Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle, all-star shortstop Jose Reyes, infielder/outfielder Emilio Bonafacio and catcher John Buck, whose most productive season at the plate came in 2010 with Toronto.

Heading to Miami is shortstop Yunel Escobar, pitcher Henderson Alvarez, catcher Jeff Mathis, infielder Adeiny Hechavarria and three prospects.

"It wasn't that we went into the off-season saying we need to make a 12-player trade," said Anthopoulos, who also confirmed the signing of free-agent outfielder Melky Cabrera to a two-year deal worth $16 million. "It would have been fine making a two-player trade if it was the right players. It just happened to [evolve into a bigger deal]."

Johnson the focus

The conversation began in early November with Marlins GM Larry Beinfest at the GMs meetings in Indians Wells, Calif. Anthopoulos was only thinking about Johnson at the time, a 28-year-old right-hander who led the National League with a 2.30 earned-run average in 2010.

"When they [Miami] asked for some of our better young players at the GMs meetings, I said, 'Well, if we're going to have to be giving up some of our better young players we better try to go big here and really impact the club.' And if it's going to hurt [our long-term future] let's make sure that we really get some value back and some impact back and let's expand this. And Florida was willing to do that."

From Day 1, Blue Jays president and CEO Paul Beeston has told Anthopoulos that team ownership, Rogers Communications Inc., would make the money available for the right trade. Beeston told the GM to "stay on" the trade with Beinfest and he would make the necessary calls to get a deal done."

'He's one of the better GMs to deal with because he's such a straight shooter, no nonsense.'— Anthopoulos on Marlins GM Larry Beinfest

The trade talk grew to include Reyes and Buehrle before getting hung up on Bonafacio, who can play second base, shortstop, third and the outfield. The 27-year-old hit .258 in an injury plagued 2012 season but stole 30 bases in 64 games. In 2011, Bonafacio had a .393 on-base percentage in 152 contests.

Anthopoulos said the Mathis/Buck component was the last part of the trade and held up negotiations for an additional "five or six hours." He pointed to his relationship with Beinfest for the deal not falling apart.

"He's one of the better GMs to deal with," Anthopoulos said, "because he's such a straight shooter, no nonsense. "A number of years ago we talked about [second baseman] Dan Uggla in a trade and I had experiences dealing with Larry [then]. The one thing is [the Marlins] don't play games and you appreciate that as a GM.

"I think we were better equipped to move fast because I knew who I was dealing with on the other end. And I knew that they weren't going to start pulling back [players] and playing games. … Five, six days we got it done.

"I don't think there's a better example of the importance of our [scouting] and player development staff when it came to this trade."

Anthopoulos said the Blue Jays still have needs, citing more depth in the starting rotation, bullpen and from a position player standpoint "I think there are always areas to improve.

"Right now I feel good about the team," he added, "but you're not going to hear me make any grand statements about how much better we are."

Anthopoulos had stopped gushing. Well, until his next move.

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Glew: John Gibbons is gutsy hire for Blue Jays GM

Given what Toronto Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos was seeking in manager, settling on John Gibbons is perceived as more of a gutsy choice than an inspired one.

In hindsight, John Gibbons seems like an obvious choice to manage the Toronto Blue Jays in 2013.

Earlier this off-season, Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos had indicated that he was looking for a manager that he knew he could work with and who wanted to be in Toronto. It also became clear that he was seeking someone with previous major-league experience.

Names like Mike Hargrove, Manny Acta, Jim Tracy and Jim Riggleman were being tossed around, but it should have dawned on us that Gibbons, who managed the Jays for parts of five seasons from 2004 to 2008, would be a prime candidate.

The 50-year-old San Antonio, Texas, native, who formed a friendship with Anthopoulos during his first tenure with the Jays, was introduced as the club's new manager at a press conference at the Rogers Centre on Tuesday morning.

Last season, Gibbons, who was also a first-base coach with the Jays in 2002 and 2003, managed the double-A San Antonio Missions in the San Diego Padres organization following three seasons as the Kansas City Royals bench coach. Gibbons becomes the second manager, joining Cito Gaston, to have two tenures with the Jays.

Judging by the reaction on social media, Jays fans energized by the club's 12-player blockbuster trade with the Miami Marlins and the Melky Cabrera signing are underwhelmed with the hire. They point to Gibbons' middling 305-305 record and to the fact that he hasn't managed in the big leagues since he guided an underperforming Jays squad to a 35-39 record to start the 2008 campaign.

Unfortunately, fans best remember Gibbons for two incidents in 2006. The first came on July 19, when disgruntled designated hitter Shea Hillenbrand wrote "This ship is sinking" and "Play for yourself" on a display board in the clubhouse to describe his feelings about the team. Gibbons reportedly confronted Hillenbrand and challenged him to a fight. Three days later, Hillenbrand was traded to the San Francisco Giants.

On August 21 of that same season, Jays starter Ted Lilly had been staked to 8-0 lead, but after he surrendered five runs in the third inning, Gibbons made his way to the mound to pull him. Lilly initially wouldn't give him the ball and, after the left-hander begrudgingly walked off the field, Gibbons followed him into the clubhouse tunnel, where they engaged in a shoving match.

In Tuesday's press conference, Gibbons said he regretted those actions and that there was no place for physical contact with his players. Interestingly, Anthopoulos defended his manager, saying he had no problem with the way Gibbons handled those incidents.

These incidents tend to cloud the fact that Gibbons guided the Jays to an 87-75 record and a second-place finish in the American League East that season, the only time the club has finished that high since winning the World Series in 1993.

Firm but fatherly

Despite those confrontations, players generally loved playing for Gibbons and his firm but fatherly presence earned him respect in the clubhouse and from management. His actions in the Hillenbrand and Lilly incidents and his decision to bench slumping future Hall of Famer Frank Thomas in April 2008 show that he's not to afraid to hold players accountable -- something John Farrell was criticized for not doing in 2012.

As Anthopoulos said repeatedly during Tuesday's press conference, Gibbons is also excellent at managing a bullpen. During his first term in Toronto, he coaxed career seasons out of relievers B.J. Ryan, Jeremy Accardo, Scott Downs and Justin Speier. He also implemented successful platoons with several of his position players. The duo of Frank Catalanotto and Reed Johnson, for example, formed one of the most productive left-field combinations in baseball. Gregg Zaun and Bengie Molina also excelled sharing duties behind the plate.

In his first tenure with the Jays, Gibbons also gained valuable experience working with both young and veteran-laden clubs, so he learned when to teach and when to get out of the way. This will come in handy with the mixture of veterans and youngsters on the club next season. And with a roster that includes stolen base threats like Jose Reyes, Emilio Bonifacio, Brett Lawrie, Rajai Davis and Maicer Izturis, Gibbons said that he won't be afraid to run next season, but he added that his players won't run recklessly -- a problem for the Jays in 2012.

Shades of 2005

This off-season is starting to feel similar to the 2005 off-season. With Gibbons heading into his third season as dugout boss, then-Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi opened up Rogers' wallet to sign big-ticket free agents A.J. Burnett and Ryan and traded for first baseman Lyle Overbay and third baseman Troy Glaus.

Expectations were high for the Jays heading into 2006 and, saddled with that pressure, Gibbons guided the club to that respectable second-place finish. With the addition of two potential ace starters in Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle, baseball's best leadoff hitter in Reyes and the National League's leading hitter in Melky Cabrera, Gibbons will once again be expected to lead the Jays into contention. He seemed to welcome these expectations at the press conference on Tuesday.

Given the field of candidates available and the criteria that Anthopoulos was looking for in a manager, we shouldn't have been surprised that Gibbons was a prime candidate. This is a gutsy hire by Anthopoulos. Gibbons may seem like an uninspired choice, but once you get past the incidents with Hillenbrand and Lilly and look at his assets and experience, he actually seems like a pretty good choice to lead the Jays back into contention.

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Blue Jays' megadeal with Marlins, Melky Cabrera signing both official

It took longer than Blue Jays fans probably would have liked, but Toronto's mammoth 12-player trade with the Miami Marlins is finally a done deal.

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig said Monday he would not stand in the way of the trade that sees Toronto acquire all-star shortstop Jose Reyes, pitchers Mark Buehrle and Josh Johnson, catcher John Buck and infielder/outfielder Emilio Bonifacio from Miami for seven players.

"It is my conclusion that this transaction, involving established major leaguers and highly regarded young players and prospects, represents the exercise of plausible baseball judgment on the part of both clubs, does not violate any express rule of Major League Baseball and does not otherwise warrant the exercise of any of my powers to prevent its completion," Selig said it a statement. "It is, of course, up to the clubs involved to make the case to their respective fans that this transaction makes sense and enhances the competitive position of each, now or in the future."

Miami gets infielders Yunel Escobar and Adeiny Hechavarria, pitchers Henderson Alvarez, Anthony DeSclafani and Justin Nicolino, catcher Jeff Mathis and outfielder Jake Marisnick in the deal agreed to last week. The Marlins also are sending cash to Toronto as part of their payroll purge.

Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos said after Toronto's disappointing campaign in 2012 — one that the club go 73-89 and finish fourth in the American League East — that he wanted to improve the team's starting pitching.

He did so in dramatic fashion, pulling off one of the biggest deals in franchise history that changes the look of the team and immediately puts the Blue Jays in the conversation for the American League East crown.

But with the deal will come increased expectations.

Toronto, which has not made the playoffs since the second of back-to-back World Series victories in 1993, acquired combined guaranteed salaries of $163.75 million US through 2018 in the deal, including $96 million due Reyes.

Anthopoulos was expected to address the media at Rogers Centre on Tuesday morning.

Johnson and Buehrle will immediately improve a starting rotation that already includes Brandon Morrow and Ricky Romero. Reyes, who should bat leadoff, is a major upgrade over Escobar at shortstop, Bonifacio could fill a hole at second base and Buck, a former Blue Jay, gives the team veteran experience behind the plate.

Big investment

Despite the huge monetary investment, Toronto didn't have to give up much off the current roster.

Escobar's days with the Blue Jays were already numbered after he wrote an anti-gay slur in Spanish on his eyeblack late in the season. Mathis was a decent backup, while the jury is still out on Alvarez and prospects Hechavarria, DeSclafani, Nicolino and Marisnick.

Which player are you most interested in seeing in a Blue Jays uniform?

Anthopolous still has more work to do, including the hiring of a new manager after John Farrell jumped ship to the Boston Red Sox in October.

Despite the major jump in payroll, the trade with the Marlins doesn't come without risk. Reyes, a career .291 hitter with 259 doubles, 111 triples, 92 home runs and 480 RBIs in 1,210 games, is an injury concern, especially on the turf at Rogers Centre.

The 29-year-old switch-hitter batted .287 for the Marlins last season with 37 doubles, 12 triples, 11 home runs, 57 RBIs and 40 stolen bases last season, a year removed from winning the National League batting title.

Johnson, a free agent after 2013, is owed $13.75 million next season, while Buehrle has $52 million remaining on a deal that expires in 2015.

The 28-year-old Johnson was 8-14 last season with a 3.81 earned-run average in 31 starts for Miami. The two-time all-star recorded 165 strikeouts with 65 walks in 191 1/3 innings. A six-foot-seven right-hander, Johnson led the National League with a 2.30 ERA in 2010.

Buehrle was 13-13 in 2012 with a 3.74 ERA in his first season with the Marlins. The 33-year-old left-hander tossed 202 1-3 innings in 31 starts, marking the 12th consecutive season he pitched at least 200 innings. The four-time all-star spent the first 12 years of his career with the Chicago White Sox before joining Miami last season.

Buck appeared in 106 games for the Marlins in 2012, batting .192 with 12 home runs and 41 RBIs. The 33-year-old veteran catcher returns to Toronto, where he was an American League all-star in 2010.

Bonifacio, 27, batted .258 last season in 64 games, with 30 stolen bases and 30 runs scored. He can play all three outfield positions, as well as second base, third base and shortstop.

Fans angered in Florida

Since flopping during the first half of their first season at their new ballpark, the Marlins also have traded former NL batting champion Hanley Ramirez, second baseman Omar Infante, right-hander Anibal Sanchez and closer Heath Bell.

The Marlins have been criticized for jettisoning veterans after moving into a ballpark largely funded by public money.

"I am sensitive to the concerns of the fans of Miami regarding this trade, and I understand the reactions I have heard," Selig added in the statement. "Baseball is a social institution with important social responsibilities and I fully understand that the Miami community has done its part to put the Marlins into a position to succeed with beautiful new Marlins Park.

"Going forward, I will continue to monitor this situation with the expectation that the Marlins will take into account the sentiments of their fans, who deserve the best efforts and considered judgment of their club. I have received assurances from the ownership of the Marlins that they share these beliefs and are fully committed to build a long-term winning team that their fans can be proud of."

Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest said he understood why fans in Miami were mad and confirmed the trade was necessary because owner Jeffrey Loria wanted to pare payroll.

"I understand the pause the fans have with the instability in our roster at a time when we were hoping to be very stable in the new stadium," Beinfest said. "It's not a lot of fun."

By swinging the deal only months after the Marlins moved into a new stadium built with taxpayer money, they pared from their books $146.5 million in payroll. That's their net savings after agreeing to send $8.5 million to the Blue Jays as part of the trade.

"We've finished in last place the past two years, and that is unacceptable," Loria said in a statement. "It's incumbent on us to make the changes necessary to make us a winner again. It may not happen overnight. But with the players we acquired in the second half of last season, coupled with the infusion of players we are acquiring now, we will be returning to Marlins baseball: high energy and hungry."

Miami's biggest remaining star, slugger Giancarlo Stanton, has been among those expressing anger about the trade. Beinfest said he hadn't talked with Stanton about the deal.

"I know this is an emotional time," Beinfest said. "I'm sure it has been tough for him. Our feeling was to maybe let the dust settle a little bit and then talk to Giancarlo. I hear the frustration. It's not unexpected. This has been a tough go, but we think it's best for us moving forward."

Players' union head Michael Weiner withheld comment, saying he was awaiting more input from Major League Baseball.

In January 2009, the union reached an agreement with MLB and the Marlins covering 2010-12 which Weiner said was a "response to our concerns that revenue sharing proceeds have not been used as required." As part of the deal, Weiner said the team planned to "use such proceeds to increase player payroll annually as they move toward the opening of their new ballpark."

To make room on the 40-man roster following the trade, Toronto designated right-handed pitcher Joel Carreno for assignment.

With files from The Associated Press

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John Gibbons returns as Blue Jays manager

The Toronto Blue Jays have reached into the past in a big-time push to form a future contender.

John Gibbons, who skippered the Blue Jays between 2004 and 2008, was re-hired Tuesday as manager, succeeding John Farrell, who bolted for the Boston Red Sox following two mediocre seasons in Toronto.

"It's happened fast," Gibbons told reporters during a media conference at Rogers Centre. "I'm thrilled to be back."

"This is the right guy to lead this team," Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos said.

Bringing John Gibbons back as manager is...

Anthopoulos also addressed the acquisition of shortstop Jose Reyes, left-handed pitcher Mark Buehrle, right-hander Josh Johnson, catcher John Buck and utility man Emilio Bonifacio in the much-documented, 12-player trade with the Miami Marlins, finalized Monday, and the signing of free-agent outfielder Melky Cabrera for an estimated $16 million US over two years.

"We think our lineup is going to be very dynamic," he said.

Gibbons, 50, is said to be a close friend of Anthopoulos, which may speak to him being hired over rumoured candidates like Jim Riggleman and Jim Tracy.

"I wasn't even involved in it," Gibbons said, referring to Toronto's managerial search. "You guys [the media] were way off."

"Gibby was the right fit for this organization, for this group," Anthopoulos noted.

Gibbons, from Great Falls, Mont., first replaced fired Carlos Tosca as Blue Jays manager in August 2004, going 20-30 the rest of the way and posting a 305-305 record in 610 games at the helm.

He has since served as bench coach with the Kansas City Royals and last season managed the San Diego Padres' double-A affiliate in San Antonio, Texas, which he now calls home.

Prior to joining the Blue Jays the first time, he spent 11 years in the New York Mets organization, earning three manager-of-the-year awards.

"I've got more conviction in this transaction, in this hiring than anything," Anthopoulos said. "It's my decision, it's what I wanted to do."

Gibbons was originally hired by Toronto in 2002 as a bullpen coach by then-GM J.P. Ricciardi, his former minor-league roomate, and swiftly promoted to first-base coach under Tosca.

Gibbons' first stint as manager was highlighted by an 87-75 mark in 2006, when the Blue Jays rose beyond third place in the American League East for the first time since winning back-to-back World Series in 1992-93.

"Players love playing for him … [and] he connected with the front office," Anthopoulos said.

Perhaps so, but Gibbons' long-held reputation as an affable coach was damaged that season in somewhat unprofessional confrontations with disgruntled veterans Shea Hillenbrand and Ted Lilly.

"Yeah, I had a couple of dustups," he admitted.

Gibbons challenged Hillenbrand to a fight after the outspoken first baseman wrote critical slogans — "play for yourself" and "the ship is sinking" — on a board used to post batting practice times.

Hillenbrand was promptly designated for assignment and traded three days later to the San Francisco Giants.

"What happened with Shea Hillenbrand, he better be confronted," Anthopoulos said, defending Gibbons in retrospect.

"I think it's a strong suit. If you do push, he [Gibbons] will react and I think it's important."

Later that season, Gibbons reportedly shoved Lilly during a heated exchange in the tunnel leading to the clubhouse after removing the pitcher from a game in which he had squandered a healthy lead.

"That was kind of a black eye for me," Gibbons acknowledged. "I wish it hadn't happened, but it happened.

"I'm an intense guy, I play to win … I'm passionate, but I also believe everyone has to be pulling in the same direction."

Too intense? Too volatile? Too average? Viewpoints at the time often varied on Gibbons, who, ultimately, never reached the playoffs and wound up fired in June 2008 and replaced by celebrated World Series-winning skipper Cito Gaston — by coincidence, the only other manager to be hired twice by the Blue Jays.

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Blue Jays sign Melky Cabrera with Marlins trade pending: report

The busy Toronto Blue Jays struck again Friday with their latest big deal: All-Star game MVP Melky Cabrera is set to join them in his return from a drug suspension.

A person familiar with the negotiations said the free agent outfielder and the Blue Jays have reached agreement on a two-year contract worth $16 million US. The deal is pending a physical, the person told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because there was no official announcement.

ESPN Deportes first reported the agreement Friday.

Earlier this week, the Blue Jays got All-Star shortstop Jose Reyes and pitchers Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle from the Miami Marlins in a blockbuster trade that could involve a dozen players.

Toronto has not reached the playoffs since winning its second straight World Series in 1993, and has often been stuck behind big spenders in the American League East. After going 73-89 this year, the Blue Jays have made quite a splash in the offseason.

The 28-year-old Cabrera was leading the National League in hitting at .346 for the San Francisco Giants when he drew a 50-game suspension Aug. 15 for a positive testosterone test.

Cabrera later asked to be removed from consideration for the NL batting title, feeling it would be a tainted crown — a rule change in the number of required plate appearances for the champion let Giants teammate and eventual NL MVP Buster Posey win at .336.

The Giants didn't put Cabrera on their postseason roster on the way to winning the World Series, even after he became eligible at the start of the NL championship series.

Cabrera hit 11 home runs with 60 RBIs in his lone year with San Francisco. He hit .305 with 18 homers and 87 RBIs the previous season with Kansas City, then was traded to the Giants.

Cabrera made his major league debut in 2005 with the New York Yankees and stayed with them until being traded to Atlanta after the 2009 season.

The Blue Jays had their share of sluggers — Edwin Encarnacion hit 42 homers and two-time home run champ Jose Bautista hit 27 — but didn't score at an exceptional rate.

Toronto averaged 4.42 runs per game last season, slightly below the AL average. Cabrera is friendly with Encarnacion and Bautista, another reason he felt comfortable joining the Blue Jays.

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MLB document banning Pete Rose fails to meet minimum auction bid

Pete Rose's copy of the 1990 agreement in which he accepted a lifetime ban from baseball failed to sell at auction because no bid met the minimum.

Goldin Auctions said Sunday the highest bid was $236,000 US, a price that would have been raised to $258,600 including the auctioneer's 10 per cent fee.

Bidding began Oct. 16 and ran through Saturday.

Ken Goldin says in an email to The Associated Press that "I am working on selling it privately for the consignor."

The seller has not been identified, but Goldin says it is not Rose.

Among the items that did sell were Barry Lyons' 1986 Mets World Series ring ($22,840), a 2009 Derek Jeter game-used bat ($8,982) and Michael Jordan's American Express card ($3,146).

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