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So long, Doc. You are one of a kind. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

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Just wanted to check in with some links around the blogosphere about the Halladay trade and then open it up to y'all:

• At Fangraphs, Dave Cameron takes a look at the trade (not the Wallace-Taylor part):

Let’s start with the Blue Jays. They were obviously over a barrel with Halladay after the debacle of trying to trade him this summer. New GM Alex Anthopolous knew he needed to move his ace for the best package he could get, but also come away with enough young talent to sell this as more than an admission that they screwed up in July. In the trio of young players they’re getting from the Phillies, they were able to do just that.

Drabek, Taylor, and D’Arnaud are high quality prospects. For one year of Halladay (and $6 million in cash, which isn’t trivial but less useful to a Toronto team that won’t win in 2010), that’s a very strong return. Anthopolous did well to come away with that level of talent, given his leverage in the situation.

I disagree with the characterization of last year's trade deadline as a "debacle" other than perhaps as a media debacle, but I otherwise generally agree with this.   
• Also at Fangraphs, Dave Allen takes a look at Roy Halladay's stuff.  Yeah, he's good.  Now, I don't get why Philadelphia felt like they had to deal Cliff Lee on the same day they acquired Doc, since it really wasn't a three team trade.  I would've thought they could have done better holding on to him for the best possible return, considering that worst-case scenario is probably a year of Cliff Lee well below market value for a competing team, followed by Type A free agent status.  That said, I don't get why Phillies fans aren't happier with the deal.  You got Roy Halladay, guys.  It's a win.  And he signed a team-friendly extension, and you replenished your farm system a bit by dealing Lee. 
• The Hardball Times likes the deal for the Jays too, including the acquisition of Wallace for Taylor:

Toronto made out extremely well, netting a high-upside pitcher in Kyle Drabek that they don't have anywhere in the system. Toronto has solid rotation depth, especially in the major leagues, but no one you can give the ball to on Opening Day and expect to win. Drabek can be that guy.

Travis D'Arnaud has been coveted by Toronto ever since he was selected a pick ahead of the Jays in 2007. The Blue Jays have J.P. Arencibia in their farm system, but there are questions about his ability to stay behind the plate, and D'Arnaud is the better value anyways. Michael Taylor was a Blue Jay for only the briefest of moments, as he was immediately shipped to Oakland for Brett Wallace.

While Taylor might evolve into a 20/20 player and provide good overall value out of the outfield, Wallace is the type of hitter Toronto needs in its next wave of youngsters. Toronto absolutely needs the upside that Wallace brings with the bat and can afford to worry about defense later. Assuming Wallace can't stick at third (which is not a done deal just yet), he has the options of moving to first or designated hitter, with no one blocking him at either position.

Toronto has put themselves in great position to field a young, competitive club as soon as 2012. That's all they could have asked for in a trade of Halladay.

         I have to admit, I wasn't crazy about moving Taylor for Wallace at first, as it seems like Wallace will have to move to first base and I was looking forward to a season of Taylor, not Jose Bautista, in right field for the Jays in 2010 (and beyond).  But the more I think about it, the more I'm pleased that the Jays have decided to go with the best talent they can get - I think it shows confidence in evaluation and in the ability to deal one of their 1st basemen/DH types if it comes to it.  Overbay is clearly on his way out, Cooper is a big question mark, I like Dopirak well, but Ruiz can't be thought of as any time of long-term plan. 

• The Drunks have a run-down of Keith Law's comments on the deal.  Law doubts Drabek can be a true ace because of the lack of a great third pitch, but likes him as a number two or, at worst, a number three.  He thinks Wallace will be a great hitter, albeit as a first-baseman.  And he projects d'Arnaud as a solid everyday catcher.  Sounds like a plan to me.  \
• Jordan Bastian mentions what seems inevitable, that Overbay is on his way out, at the latest after 2010, that Cooper's stock has fallen, and that the Jays are considering moving Wallace to third base.  I don't see the harm in keeping Wallace at third base in AAA if he's not going to make the major-league roster, though, unless they want to try Scott Campbell everyday at third in Las Vegas again. 

What say you, banterers? 

Update:  1:30 pm.  Apparently, someone failed a physical, potentially putting the deal in jeopardy depending on who it is.  We've heard it wasn't Doc or Cliff Lee (can you imagine Doc failing a physical?  I think the treadmill used for the stress test would fail first)  or Phillipe Aumont, so who?

Update^2: 2:45 pm.  Blair says the entire physical-failing rumor was completely false, and other sources are confirming that the deal is final and there will be a Doc press conference this afternoon.  That was a weird hour. 

More photos » by Darren Calabrese - AP

I'm not ready to let Jeremy Accardo walk away just yet (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darren Calabrese)

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Following up on Tom's post, I figured I'd take a break from my too-long hiatus to put up my views on the arbitration-eligible Jays.

I don't see the point in offering Shawn Camp arbitration.  He pitched well for the team last year but there are cheaper alternatives that have more upside.  And he's not even a FA after 2010, as far as I know, so there's not really a reason to keep him around for the draft pick (assuming you think he could get there) either. 

Jeremy Accardo, I would offer a contract.  Obviously Cito doesn't like him, but he has talent and would be a mainstay in a number of MLB bullpens.  I would try to trade him.  If they can't get anything useful back, I'd see if he can make the big-league bullpen out of spring, which I think he can. If he doesn't make the team, I'd release him then out of fairness to Jeremy or trade him for whatever is out there.  Cito might be what we call testa dura, but he does change his mind about players sometimes and an improved attitude (and, more importantly, improved control) on Jeremy's part could give him a new lease on his Jays career.

Jose Bautista has to be non-tendered, in my view.  Even if the Jays want to keep him, I think they can non-tender him and retain him for less money.  $4 million is way too much for a utility player (which is what he better be) on a non-contending team.  I don't see a lot of teams knocking down the door to snatch him up and if someone wants to give him a starting job, more power to him. 

Raul Chavez, I'm not sure it matters one way or the other but he did a nice job last season.  I'm not a fan of what I consider to be over-catching, but the pitchers didn't seem to mind. 

Casey Janssen and Dustin McGowan, I think you absolutely have to offer deals.  Neither is going to cost much more than the minimum and while there are huge long-term concerns for both (McGowan if he'll ever pitch again, Janssen if he'll ever be as good as he was), they do both have proven major league success and when you have the chance to get that for close to the minimum, you take it.

Shaun Marcum, Jason Frasor, and Brandon League to me are no-brainers, as is Brian Tallet.  Tallet is right on the bubble of being a Type B free agent in 2010, is a useful lefty out of the pen, and shouldn't be too expensive. 

Today's title from the incredible song "Age of Consent" by New Order, one of my favorite winter bands. 
Stay warm.

More photos » by Gail Burton - AP

2 months ago: Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Ricky Romero delivers against the Baltimore Orioles in the third inning of a baseball game Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

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The Jays' season came sputtering to a close this afternoon with a series sweep at the hands of the Baltimore Orioles. Today's game was an extra-inning affair the Jays lost in the bottom of the 11th.

On the Mound:  Ricky Romero pitched pretty well for the Jays, though he gave up 4 runs.  Three walks in 7 innings hurt him, but he struck out 8 and only gave up 5 hits (one of which was a 2-run home run by Nick Markakis). The long ball has been a thorn in Romero's side all season and will surely be something he works on next year. 

At the Plate:  Edwin Encarnacion hit another home run, which was encouraging.  Edwin had a very good close to the season, batting .261/.343/.500 from September 1st on.  If his wrist issues are behind him, he could have a good season at the plate next year.  Jose Bautista and John McDonald also hit solo shots, and Travis Snider added an RBI double.  Randy Ruiz had 2 doubles, a single, and a walk for a nice afternoon at the office. Vernon Wells had one of those days, going 0-5 and leaving a lot of men on base before Joe Inglett took his spot in the lineup to give him a bit of an early end to the season.

From the Pen:  Jesse Carlson and Shawn Camp combined to hold the line for three innings, giving the Jays the chance to tie it at four on J-Mac's home run in the 7th, but Brandon League had some serious problems in the 11th, giving up a leadoff single and then throwing two away in a row and allowing the run to score.  His focus just wasn't there - understandable, I suppose, given the circumstances - he has had a ridiculously hard-luck season and likely just wanted it to be over.  I'm going to go ahead and pencil him in for a big season next year. 

The Jays finish the season at 75-87, pretty poor considering how hot they started.  Their pythagorean record, however, was over .500 (83-79), showing that the Jays have been the victim of poor run distribution.  Normally, I might say bad luck, but this is the third straight season that the Jays have underperformed their pythagorean record and particularly struggled to hit with runners in scoring position, so that really won't fly.

Well, this is it, last game of the season.  Ricky Romero pitches for the Jays and Jeremy Guthrie goes for Baltimore. 

Yesterday's game was some kind of ugly, though I enjoyed watching the Twins come within 1 game of the Tigers - the Central is an exciting division. 

Tonight, Scott Richmond pitches for the corvids while former Jay Mark Hendrickson goes for the icteridae in the battle for Passeriformes supremacy (at least in the AL, the Cardinals pretty clearly reign supreme in all of baseball. 

I won't be around for tonight's game as I have my end-of-season softball tournament this afternoon and plans for an epic Beatles Rock Band tourney later on, but drop into the game threads, which have stayed strong despite the season being almost over. 

Today's title from the song "Forgive and Forget" by the Get Up Kids - with the lyric fitting the final series of the season while using the strong struck me given the Cito situation, not to mention Ricciardi's firing.

The Jays kick off their final season series tonight in the Land of Pleasant Living.  David Purcey looks to follow up a reasonably strong start for the Jays, while Jason Berken, who pitched well against the Jays his last time out, pitches for the black and orange icterids.  

Kyle Phillips gets the start behind the plate tonight, while that Kevin Millar-shaped guy at the hot corner is, well, Kevin Millar.  Since my trip to Minneapolis this week (great town, by the way), I've been rooting for the Twins to catch up to the Tigers, so I'll be flipping between this game and that one. 

Today's title comes from an obscure Bruce Springsteen b-side called Shut Out the Light.

Hi everyone.  Hope things are going well.  The Jays, having concluded the Canadian portion of our programme, will finish the year on the road.  Scott Richmond and Michael Bowden will face off, Bowden making his first start of the year. 

Today's title comes from a Jonathan Richman song and a great one.  Almost makes me not hate the Red Sox.  Almost.

Yesterday's game was unbelievable.

Today -- Purcey v. Ian Snell.  I'll be flipping back and forth between this game and the 2nd half of Fulham and Arsenal.  What can I stay, London derby.  Who knows, maybe the lineups will even be working by the time the game starts.

No Millar!

Let's go Jays, let's go Doc!

More photos » by Darren Calabrese - AP

2 months ago: Seattle Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki hits an infield single during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darren Calabrese)

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Jays lost a close one tonight when their late inning rallying fell short

On the Mound:  Ricky Romero pitched a decent game, going 6 1/3 innings, striking out 5, but walking 3(not including a HBP)  and giving up 9 hits, including a 2-run Franklin Guitierrez HR in the third.  Good enough to win, really, but it didn't work out that way

At the Plate:  Vernon Wells showed his lack of fortitude with 4 RBI including a three run home run in the 6th and RBI single in the 8th.  Frankly, I was disgusted to see him even trying, much less succeeding, in such a low-pressure situation. Against Felix Hernandez,  no less.   It was Wells' 15th big fly of the season. Aaron Hill added 2 doubles, J-Mac scratched out two base hits, and that was mostly it for Jays offense.

From the Pen:  Shawn Camp pitched a good 2/3 of an inning, but neither Jesse Carlson nor Jeremy Accardo was effective after that.  Carlson ended up the loser after giving up a 2-run triple to Jack Wilson. 

In the field:  The Jays' fielders were busy with Ricky Romero inducing 12 ground balls to just 4 in the air - the infielders combined for 4 double plays which were instrumental in keeping the Jays in the game. 

Wells, Hill, and Camp take home Jays of the Day, while Carlson earns the Batista.  Too many Hinskes to count today.