Burning Bush

Well, the Jays have finally made a move this winter that I don't like.  (To back up a bit, I think that the Burnett and Ryan deals are probably too long, but otherwise are smart moves.)  Getting Lyle Overbay for Dave Bush and Gabe Gross is acceptable.  While I think that Bush is going to be a good pitcher for the next 4 years or so, somebody along with Miguel Bautista was odd man out in the starting staff, and Ted Lilly is probably the better call for this year (which seems to be the Jays' main concern).  But Lyle Overbay and a PTBNL (edit: Ty Taubenheim is the PTBNL) for Dave Bush, Gabe Gross and Zach Jackson?  That's too much.

Overbay is a good hitter, and is a fine addition to a team that has one or two big bats.  But he's not a great bat.  And the Jays just traded a young pitcher who is currently a decent #4 or #5 starter with the potential to be a #2 or #3 starter (Bush), a very good prospect who's one year removed from being a first round draft pick (Jackson) and a one time prospect who's development seems to have stalled (Gross) in order to get him.  That's a bit much.  It's also not enough to improve the offense at all.  So the Jays (a) overpaid to get Overbay and (b) improved their offense but not by a lot.  Considering Ty Taubenheim isn't that highly regarded as a pitching prospect, that's not a lot.

With that said, rumours are swirling that the Jays aren't done.  My favourite rumour?  Javy Lopez for Eric Hinske and Miguel Bautista.  Granted, it's a second-hand thing (and the basis is a Buck Martinez interview), but please let this be true, and then all will be forgiven.  There is also talk about getting Brad Wilkerson from the Nationals Rangers, which is good.  The bad is that Orlando Hudson is front and center in those rumours.  C'mon Texas - you need pitching, not a second baseman!  Think of Ian Kinsler!  Or maybe we can offer another couple of shiny outfielders for your collection?

In other news, the Atlanta Braves traded top prospect Andy Marte to the Boston Red Sox for Edgar Renteria and a whole bunch of cash.  Does Boston have compromising photos of every GM in baseball (save Florida)?  Between this trade, the Mirabelli/Loretta deal and the Curt Schilling fiasco, that's a whole lot of pillaging.  Or is this the 2005 version of Millwood for Estrada?

(Side note: If Boston flips Marte and another player for Aubrey Huff and Julio Lugo, I will add Tampa Bay to the "non-compromising photo" list.  Because that is sooo not good.  Also, it's not good for the Jays, because (a) it shows again that Tampa Bay is getting smarter and (b) it gives Tampa another impact young hitter.  If Tampa gets another 2-3 starters to go with Scott Kazmir they will be scary good.)

Finally, my sympathies go out to ex-Jay Jamie Vermilyea who, like most Boston Rule 5 picks, will come down with a tough to cure bout of tendinitis.  Or a quad pull.  Or whatever disease the Red Sox think of to keep him from having to be offered back to the Jays.