Toronto Blue Jays News

NEW YORK (AP) _ The New York Yankees took a day off Monday. At least, that's how it looked. The Yankees' drive for a playoff spot paused, with Andy Pettitte falling behind early and a smallish crowd watching Toronto rookie Jesse Litsch pitch the Blue Jays to a 4-1 victory. New York could've clinched a post-season berth with a win, coupled with a Detroit loss later against Minnesota. Instead, the Yankees never quite woke up in their ...

TORONTO (CP) _ The Toronto Blue Jays and shortstop John McDonald have agreed on a US$3.8-million, two-year deal. The contract extension, confirmed to The Canadian Press by a source with knowledge of the talks, was expected to be announced later Tuesday and comes after a dismal 2-5 road trip that included two gut-wrenching losses in the ninth inning. McDonald, who is earning $750,000 this season, would have been eligible for free agency in the fall. His signing ...

The talk in Toronto all off-season has been on how the Blue Jays seemed to be paving the way for Vernon Wells' exit by removing him from their marketing campaigns and Christmas cards. The contract offer they've made to the all-star centre-fielder would suggest otherwise. Wells is pondering a proposed seven-year deal believed to be worth US$126 million, a package that would by far be the richest deal in franchise ...

The Toronto Blue Jays are leaving the winter meetings without any new pitchers. The representative for free agent starter Gil Meche told the Blue Jays on Thursday morning that they're out of the running for his services. Meche, a right-hander for the Seattle Mariners last season, is one of the more coveted pitchers on the market. ``They told us this morning they're not coming to Toronto,'' said Jays GM J.P. ...

Frank Thomas is joining the Toronto Blue Jays because he feels they are close as anyone to winning the World Series. The 38-year-old signed a contract with the team 10 days ago and was formally introduced by the team today. Thomas spent one season with the Oakland A's and decided not to re-sign there because he felt he had a better chance of winning in Toronto. His deal with the ...

The Toronto Blue Jays and catcher Gregg Zaun have capped a dramatic and bizarre 24 hours by agreeing in principle on a US$7.25-million, two-year contract, a source close to the talks told The Canadian Press on Tuesday. The deal, which includes an option for a third season, was hammered out Monday, after a $5.25-million, two-year deal with free agent Rod Barajas fell apart. All Barajas had to do was pass ...

Justin Speier thinks general managers around the majors realize more than ever the importance of a strong bullpen. That concept landed the former Toronto Blue Jays right-hander a four-year, US$18 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels. ``This is a dream job with a team that's going places, a team that's definitely in championship contention,'' Speier said Tuesday on a conference call. ``It was an opportunity I could not pass ...

Free-agent outfielder Frank Catalanotto has agreed to a US$13-million, three-year deal to return to the Texas Rangers after playing the last four seasons for the Toronto Blue Jays. The deal includes a team option for a fourth year, and was confirmed by a Rangers official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract is pending a physical that is expected to be conducted Tuesday. Catalanotto hit .300 and scored ...

The Toronto Blue Jays finalized an US$18-million, two-year deal with veteran slugger Frank Thomas on Friday. The contract includes a $10 million option for the 2009 season. The Blue Jays reached a tentative deal with the six-foot-five, 275-pound 38-year-old Wednesday night and spent Thursday wrapping up the details. Thomas spent the 2006 season with the Oakland Athletics batting .270 with 39 homers 114 RBIs. He takes over Toronto's vacant DH ...

The Toronto Blue Jays, starting to reshape their roster for the 2007 season, are on the verge of signing veteran slugger Frank Thomas to a two-year deal. A source close to the talks said late Wednesday night that an agreement was near with only the final details remaining to be ironed out. Reports suggest the contract could be worth US$20 million and contain an option for 2009. Barring any last-minute ...

Andrew Tinnish joined an exclusive club last week when the Toronto Blue Jays promoted him to the role of assistant scouting director. A 30-year-old from Hamilton, Tinnish is among only a handful of Canadians working in the front office for a big-league team. He's the latest to make the grade with the Blue Jays, who have given several young executives from Canada a chance to show what they can do. ...

The Reds sent infielder Trevor Lawhorn to the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday, completing their August trade for left-hander Scott Schoeneweis. Lawhorn hit .224 with four homers and 28 RBIs in 91 games for Cincinnati's Gulf Coast League team in Sarasota, Fla. He was a ninth-round pick in the June 2004 amateur draft. The Reds got Schoeneweis on Aug. 16 for a player to be named or cash. Schoeneweis was ...

The Toronto Blue Jays won't be going to the post-season this season, but for the first time in 13 years they have done better than third place. Adam Lind hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning to lift the Blue Jays to a 7-5 win over the New York Yankees on Sunday, clinching second place in the AL East for the Jays, who have done no better than third ...

Derek Jeter has been there before: One point down in the AL batting race with one game to play. Jeter went 3-for-3 with a walk Saturday in the New York Yankees' 6-5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, raising his average to .345. Minnesota's Joe Mauer, who leads the AL at .346, didn't play Saturday. ``You don't ever change your mind-set, because you're trying to get hits, anyway. It's not ...