A Play for Bay?

While Parkes mops up his tears after seeing that his ridiculous "pitching is always the top priority" argument from our most recent podcast has been roundly rejected in the little poll that you see there to the right (and while he lazily mails in single-line posts), I'll jump in and report a bullshit rumour.

For some reason, ESPN's Jayson Stark is reporting that the Jays have entered into talks with the Pirates for Jason Bay.

While I have absolutely no doubt that this will never fucking happen-- especially considering the reports that we're getting of what the Bucs are asking for in the Manny three-way negotiations-- it sort of almost makes sense in some ways. I mean, Lind, Wells, Rios and Bay as the OFs and DH in '09 would be a little more than just fine. How Snider fits in (presuming he's not part of any trade deal that might get done-- which he absolutely won't be, because this is all total bullshit) when he eventually forces the Jays hand doesn't seem to be a concern here-- if you actually believe that this is a serious possibility, which you shouldn't.

Overbay is owed $14M over the next two seasons though, and at this point, probably isn't movable without eating some of that. But OK, move Lind or Snider to first and maybe you've got something. But. . . uh... you'd probably have to gut the organization of it's best prospects to get this done. So. Then. Why?

Would they actually be dumb enough to give up some of the young pitchers who will be desperately need by the club over the next couple of years, as the back end of their rotation returns to a state of flux?

I kind of don't fucking get it.

I mean, I trust Stark, but I'm inclined to think there might be some broken telephone going on here. Either that or JP is going all in, playing for his job, and going after the one, big, available, "play for this year" player that will get the patriotic boner of approval from Godfrey et al. Because, y'know, people in this city will come out to watch a Canadian play baseball-- even though they've let out a collective yawn when it came to having the opportunity to watch two of the best pitchers of their respective generations (Clemens and Halladay, that is).

I don't know... Great players like Bay don't become available all that often, so I can't fault JP for inquiring here. But seriously? Giving up a load of prospects for Bay feels a little bit like taking one step forward and two steps back. But... I guess I could understand thinking "Why wait for Snider when you can have Bay now?" So. Fuck... whatever, it's bullshit anyway.

(Once again, we're not scouring the internet for rumors, we're finding this stuff via the awesome MLB Trade Rumors.)

Hey, wait just a fucking minute. Why would I feel validated with regard to that poll just because a bunch of Jays fans agree with me about something to do with the Jays? Shit. That almost certainly means I'm wrong, doesn't it? OK, Parkes. You win. Fuck.

UPDATE: No deal. Here is what Dejan Kovacevic says in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

UPDATE 2:09 p.m.: Forget Toronto. Just got a call from the Blue Jays. Pirates asked for something so excessive, in Toronto's minds, that the Jays' inquiry consisted of exactly one phone call.

UPDATE 2:15 p.m.: Am told the Pirates asked Toronto for outfielder Travis Snider, the Jays' No. 1 prospect, and pitcher Shaun Marcum, a starter who did not rank among Baseball America's top 10 for that organization. Toronto was very displeased with the way the talks -- or talk -- went. [Um... because Marcum's BA ranking is so important now that he's established himself?-- Ed.]

ADDITIONAL NOTE: Can anyone out there who whines about the Jays not making trades like Adam Lind + Jesse Litsch + Bag O'Balls for Slugger McGrew please take fucking note of what Pittsburgh wanted for a year and two months of Jason Bay. Thanks.

3:23 PM UPDATE: Bay is a Ray-- for Brignac and Niemann.

4:03 PM: Or not?