Love the Jays aggressive approach.

Meanwhile, Porcello seems to be on the market, with the Padres being interested. I think he posted a ridiculous groundball rate of 50% or something. Goes to show what a shitty defense can/can't do for you. I've love to have Porcello in San Diego.

There's also reports that the Pads are aggressively pursuing Edwin Jackson. Like that idea as well.

Porcello isn't bad, and seems like a good fit for Petco. I think the best part is the fact that he's still young (25-26 or so) and has a veterans mentallity at this point.

Damian, what have you heard about the Tigers getting in return for Porcello? Gregerson? Bass?

<font color=goldenrod>The only variables being unanimously confirmed are Dickey and d'Arnaud, with the Jays demanding Dickey agree to a 2 year extension before the trade is finalized.

Gose has been rumored, some writers saying he is included and some saying he isn't.

Conjecture says the Mets may include Josh Thole as a throw-in, since he is familiar with Dickey's unique knuckleball.

Also it's being said that the Jays are expecting a "top Mets prospect" in return. But really, outside of Harvey and Wheeler they have no untouchables. I'd imagine that they'd consider taking Wilmer Flores or Aderlin Rodriguez, both of whom are 3B by trade and have nowhere to play with Wright officially locked in long-term.</font>

This deal might be bigger than I thought. D'Arnaud is a heck of a propsect, but he's always hurt and hs defence isn't the greatest.

<font color=goldenrod>What baffles me is that some writers are saying the Jays won't part with anything more than d'Arnaud in any scenario and yet they'd still want another prospect back from the Mets to "balance the deal".

So a proven Cy Young Award winner, 2 extra years on his deal, and a decent unproven prospect for a high-level but ultimately unproven prospect. It doesn't seem to make sense to me why the Mets would be the ones giving up more in the deal if Dickey agrees to the extra 2 years. Don't even say age...knuckleballers have a totally different age curve and the fact is the Mets are still getting an unproven prospect in return. d'Arnaud has been injured several times and is certainly a risk.

At this point I just want this to be finalized. I'm refreshing MetsBlog every 5 minutes seemingly.</font> :o

<font color=goldenrod>So apparently it's now:

Blue Jays get:
RHP R.A. Dickey
C Josh Thole
OF Lucas Duda

Mets get:
C Travis d'Arnaud
C John Buck
RHP Noah Syndergaard
RHP Aaron Sanchez</font>

I completely see where the Jays are coming from. For one, the sample size of knuckleballers to study is miniscule. Secondly, they're (Jays) are in a position of leverage. They already have a good pitching staff. Yes, Dickey def makes them better, but they're not the Royals, who were in dire need. Jays are just trying to get the best deal possible. Hard to banger them.

Meanwhile, the Mets are in a tough spot; keep him, let him wall and collect a pick/hope to net a deal at the deadline, or extend him and hope to compete during his tenure. Decisions, decisions.

<font color=goldenrod>Duda might not be the 3rd player afterall...but numerous sites are confirming the other 4.

Christ that's a haul if true. Hope it gets finalized.</font>

As for Porcello to the Padres, MLBTR suggested Gregerson as a potential piece since the Pads won't move prospects. That would an anal rape of a trade if the Padres pulled it off. I'd take a legit mid rotation starter at worse, who's in his mid 20s, over an okay bullpen guy.

See, Vito? Nothing to worry about.

<font color=goldenrod>Now reporters are waffling on Sanchez being the 4th player involved. I had a feeling it might be too good to be true.

They need to stop speculating and only post facts. Shit's getting annoying. Syndergaard is definitely involved though.</font>

Blue Jays get:
RHP R.A. Dickey
C Josh Thole
OF Lucas Duda

Mets get:
C Travis d'Arnaud
C John Buck
RHP Noah Syndergaard
RHP Aaron Sanchez



If that's the trade I'm gonna puke.

<font color=goldenrod>Taking a complete shot in the dark, which is all it takes to be a baseball writer anyway apparently...it'll probably end up being:

Dickey
Thole
Wilmer Flores

for

d'Arnaud
Buck
Syndergaard
somebody else...seriously I don't know the Jays system well enough but surely they aren't gonna give up Sanchez too.</font>

<font color=goldenrod>Mike Adams goes to the Phillies on a 2 year deal with a vesting option.

Seemingly nothing has gone right for the Rangers this offseason. Good thing they'll still get to beat the shit out of the Mariners and Astros a lot.</font>

Unless the Angels struggle again, Rangers probably not making the playoffs since I think the AL East is taking both WC spots or at least the White Sox take one.

Don't see the As pulling another shocker run and the Royals are probably a year away from being a legit Wild Card team.

Big fan of Mike Adams. Love the signing.

Also read that John Lannan signed with the Phillies. Not sure of the details.

I don't think the Rangers should be counted out so soon. The exact same thing happened last year add they still made the post season.

Angels, offensively, are the superior team. But the Rangers are still a team with a good pitching staff, and still have Cruz, Kinsler, Beltre, Profar and have prospects Mike Olt and Leonys Martin as possible contributers. Not to mention, they could still make a trade.

I think the ChiSox are going to be pretty mediocre. I think they're still behind the Tigers, Rays, Angels, Rangers, and Yankees for a spot in the playoffs.

It'd gut the Jays system. Nicolino who was dealt for Reyes, and those three are the jays top 4

<font color=goldenrod>I've also heard Moises Sierra or Rajai Davis floated around as possibly being the 4th guy given the Mets' need for outfielders. If it's Davis that'd give the Mets 2 fill ins (him and Buck) to help supplement the big league roster for 2013. Both are free agents after the year so they're just stopgaps. d'Arnaud will probably be kept in the minors for a few weeks to give him an extra year of team control and then assume the full-time catcher's job by May.

At this point anything in addition to d'Arnaud and Syndergaard is gravy. Still doesn't sound like it'll be completed tonight.

If it goes through the Jays will be my favorite AL team. They'd be like Mets North.</font>

Same here..... Duda is terrible and I love the thought of having Buck back..... I do not mind giving up D'Arnaud, butthis trade is a step back from what AA has done by raping Miami.....one step at a time.....

This will not cripple the Jays farm system, trades like this seldom do. A guy will come flying out of singleA when no one expects and become the hot thing. Happens to every team every year, they see a potential star in a young guy and start building him up. In the case of the Oaskland A's, that player will be traded within a season or two.

Blue Jays are set to aquire R.A. Dickey. But it all hinges on Dickey signing an extension.

There's a 72 hour negotiation window that ends Tuesday at 2 ET.

Update on the Edwin Jackson/Padres rumor. MLBTR is reporting both sides are nearing a three year deal. I like it. Jackson's in his prime, its reliable, and is coming to a great park/division to pitch in.

Damian, I have a question for you, being a Padres fan and all. 6 of the last 7 years the Padres have had a closer make the All-Star game. Albeit, two were Heath Bell and Trevor Hoffman, but I think Huston Street is pretty damn good. What are your thoughts on him?

Do you think the stadium in SD has enhanced his performance, or is he good enough and it's just gravy?

He went from playing in the worst pitchers park to one of the best. I think that has alot to do with it.

Twins sign Mike Pelfrey. 1-year, $4 mil. + $1.5 mil. in incentives.

<font color=goldenrod>I wondered if the Mets would consider bringing Pelf back once the Dickey trade goes through. No way they'd have offered him guaranteed money coming off of TJS though.</font>

To Crazy Edgar, I definitely think Petco has helped lower Streets stats thus far. If you look at his career numbers compared to what he did this past season, there's a glaring difference in effectiveness.

Heath Bell benefitted big time. He's a fly ball pitcher with mediocre breaking pitched who works up in the zone. That's why he was shelled last year.

Hoffman got by partly sure to PETCO, and partly due to smoke and mirrors. A mid 80s fastball with a mid 70s changeup and the uncanny ability to paint corners and hitters to chase/swing off balance.

Huston Street did pitch pretty great for the Rockies

when you adjust for inflation anyway

The Dickey trade is finalized and I'm listening to people say that the Mets got a "great prospect package." I remember about 8-9 years ago when the Twins sent AJ Pierzynski to SF for a boatload of prospects such as Liriano, Boof Bonser and Joe Nathan and were praised for stealing from SF in an incredible trade. Since then SF has won 2 World Series and the Twins have not won a playoff series. These trades look good and sparkly but you can never guarantee prospects. However, with where the Mets franchise is it is probably the best option for them, but I just get peeved about the prospect rhetoric.

What. AJ was with San Francisco for 1 season in '04 and had no part in either of the Giants' World Series titles. Actually, he may have been an analyst in the booth at the time.

Since we have the advantage of looking back on theirs careers, neither of them being over, if Liriano and Nathan produced as they did but with the Giants it would have only helped their pitching staff.

In hindsight it was a great trade. At the time it happened it was probably considered a great trade also.

I wasn't referring to SF side of the trade, but the general load blowing about the Twins prospects that would get together with their upcoming guys like Mauer and Morneau. It didn't work for MN but was considered a great trade. The results don't back that opinion.

Injuries, under-performance and bad judgment happen with prospects, and getting hopes up about them is not a good idea. That's the gist of my point.

I'm going to miss R.A. He was just so fun to watch, and his 2012 season was simply incredible. I'll go out of my way to try to watch Jays games where he's pitching.

That being said, it was an offer the Mets couldn't refuse. Sandy was pretty adamant he wouldn't move Dickey for less than 2 top prospects - and that's exactly what he did. He stuck to his guns and it paid off. I expect d'Arnaud to be in the bigs at some point during the first half of 2013, and he could wind up anchoring the Mets behind the plate for the next decade.

Wheeler should be up in early 2013 as well to get his feet wet. Harvey, Niese, and Wheeler might be a fun rotation to watch in 2014 and beyond plus Syndergaard coming up within a couple years too. Perhaps the Mets can make an A's-esque run in 2013, but if not I still think their future looks bright in 2014.

Joe Nathan is the Twins all time saves leader.

It didn't work out?

Fair enough

I agree with the Mets here, it was the best possible move for them. But they are still unproven guys and expectations should be moderated.