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.
Later Monday, Toronto signed free agent leftfielder Melky Cabrera.
The 28-year-old was leading the National League in hitting at .346 for the San Francisco Giants when he was suspended Aug. 15 for a positive testosterone test.
Blue Jays general man-ager 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 this morning.
