As of this writing it's not official, but it sure does look like the Toronto Blue Jays are continuing their winning ways this off-season with their potential acquisition of 2012's NL Cy Young award winner. RA Dickey was a great story in New York - not quite Linsanity - but from a financial point of view, getting a good haul for a 38 year old pitcher - albeit a knuckleballer - may benefit the Mets more than holding on to the righthander for another season, one that won't make a difference when it comes to making the playoffs, and receiving the best catching prospect in baseball along with a power pitcher.

Sandy Alderson, Mets GM, made the fans as happy as they are capable of, by re-signing other fan favorite, David Wright, to a long-term extension earlier in the hot-stove league, but by all appearances, Dickey was on the way out, either having pitched 1 more season without a contract for the next, so to get a great package from the win-now Jays is about as good as it gets for the other New York team.

And as much as the Yankees and Cashman have seemingly stood pat, taking care of the veterans they wanted back for one more go around before the lesser-Steinbrenners make good on their plan to get beneath the luxury tax cap in 2014 of $189M, this is a team that was capable of more than 90 wins equating to the best record in the AL in 2012, outside of the Toronto team, the rest of the division didn't get any better. The Bosox will be different, and they can't be much worse than last season, but their willy-nilly signings of character-guys isn't going to equate in the 25-30 more wins they will need to compete in the division, although getting to play the Astros this season should benefit most teams at least a little.

Looks like Ichiro is up next now that Youkilis has been signed to play third in A-Rod's absence. I suppose he's a better option than the names, like Troy Glaus and Cody Ransom who wanted the gig. There's still the absence of a powerful right-handed bat and as of now, the catching spot is available for the combo of Cervelli, Romine and Stewart to battle with whiffle ball bats over.

It's only two more months until pitchers and catchers report for spring training and one has to suspect that Cash has a trick or two up his sleeve. I bet, despite how crazy this may sound, that he misses answering to The Boss, who always wanted to win as much, if not more, than pretty much any fan. I miss the man...

Hey! If you're X-mas present hunting, my book is available either directly through me signed or from one of these sites:

paperback or Kindle

Thanks much,
Brian