Toronto
Blue Jays

News: According to FoxSports.com, the Cubs are unlikely to land Roy Halladay in a deal this winter. The Cubs would have to make serveral moves to clear payroll to even have a chance at the Blue Jays' ace.
Impact: The Cubs already have a ton of money tied up in their starting pitching, and they don't have much financial flexibility at this point. It's starting to look like a long-shot, but the team will remain interested depending on what happens this winter. 

News: The Jays have approached the Cubs about a trade involving Halladay, the team's official site reports.
Impact: The Cubs can't take on the salary demands of Halladay, who is owed $15.75 million for 2010, without moving some payroll of their own and the Jays aren't willing to take Milton Bradley, who is owed $21 million over the next two years, as part of the return package so this trade talk may not have much legs. With Halladay set to test the free agent waters after the 2010 season you can be sure the rebuilding Jays will be looking to deal him this offseason. 

News: The Blue Jays admitted on Saturday that ace pitcher Roy Halladay does not want to re-sign with the team after his contract runs up at the end of the 2010 season, according to ESPN.
Impact: Now that Toronto has publicly admitted the long obvious, maybe they will get going on getting something in return for him. The usuals, New York, Boston and Los Angeles, are rumored to be most interested.  

News: The Blue Jays have contacted the Cubs regarding ace hurler Roy Halladay, according to MLBblogs.com.
Impact: Halladay is due $15.75MM in 2010, which the Cubs cannot currently handle. Toronto will also want some top prospects in return, making him unlikely to land in Chicago.  

News: Add the Dodgers to the list of contenders looking to acquire ace Roy Halladay this offseason. Bob Nightengale tweets that the team is focusing on the potential acquisition of the former Cy Young.
Impact: The thought is that the Dodgers would have to give up Chad Billingsley and others to land Halladay. The Dodgers need a No. 1 guy, but the only free agent that carries that tag is John Lackey. 

News: Jon Heyman of Sports Illustarted reports that "the Yankees recently called the Blue Jays to express interest in superstar pitcher Roy Halladay."
Impact: Who else. The Red Sox are also said to be very interested. After all their posturing last season, it looks like the Jays are going to be forced to trade the face of their franchise to one of their hated inter-division rivals. The rich get richer, as they say. 

News: Scutaro hasn't ruled out the possibility of returning to the Jays on a one-year deal if he's offered arbitration, the team's official site reports.
Impact: It's hard to imagine he won't try to cash in on his career year and sign a multi-year offer somewhere but the Jays are fully expected to offer him salary arbitration in any event. 

News: Vernon Wells underwent surgery on his left wrist today, according to the Associated Press. He is expected to be recovered in time for spring training.
Impact: Doctors repaired cartilage damage in his wrist sustained while diving to make a catch against the Indians in 2008. His wrist was a main cause for his disappointing 2009 campaign, and Wells will aim to bounce back next year.  

News: Wells has had surgery on his left wrist and is expected to be ready for spring training.
Impact: The team said Friday that doctors repaired cartilage in his wrist, which he broke diving to make a catch against the Indians in 2008. Wells struggled through one of his worst seasons as a pro in 2009, batting just .260 with 15 home runs and 66 RBIs. 

News: Wells underwent surgery Friday to repair damaged cartilage in his left wrist, the Associated Press reports.
Impact: Wells initially damaged the cartilage during the 2008 season, and suffered through a poor 2009 campaign in part because of lingering wrist pain. He's expected to be healthy by the time spring training begins. 

News: SI.com is reporting that the New York Yankees will inquire about pitcher Roy Halladay this winter. The Jays have said they would be willing to trade Halladay within the division, and the Yankees are looking for another starting pitcher.
Impact: It is starting to look like Halladay to the Yanks could be very realistic. The Yankees have the money and prospects to get a deal done, and they have made no secret about the fact that they would like to make their rotation deeper this winter. If Halladay were to team up with CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, and Andy Pettitte, New York will be a heavy favorite to repeat as World Series champs in 2010. 

News: Sources told MLB.com's Todd Zolecki that the chances of the Phillies trading for Halladay this offseason are unlikely.
Impact: This is in contrast to an earlier report claiming the Phillies were in the running for Halladay again. The Blue Jays wanted right-hander Kyle Drabek, left-hander J.A. Happ and outfielders Domonic Brown and Anthony Gose for Halladay before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. The Phillies would not part with that package of talent now that Halladay is only a year away from free agency. 

News: The Phillies are believed to be unlikely to trade for ace hurler Roy Halladay, according to Todd Zolecki of MLBblogs.com.
Impact: The Phillies are banking on Cole Hamels bouncing back healthy with a strong campaign in 2010, and look to be content with him and Cliff Lee as their top two hurlers. The Phillies are also unlikely to part with their top prospects to add Halladay. 

News: Barajas filed for free agency on Monday but both sides have expressed an interest in him returning to Toronto, the team's official site reports.
Impact: Barajas is a Type B free agent, meaning the Jays would receive a sandwich pick in the upcoming draft if they offer him arbitation and he signs elsewhere. The extra draft pick could be enticing to the rebuilding Jays so expect them to offer him arbitration but he'll likely at least test the free agent waters. 

News: The Blue Jays have claimed McCoy off waivers.
Impact: There's a much clearer path to at-bats with the big league club in Toronto than there is in Colorado -- particularly for a middle infielder. McCoy has speed and decent on-base skills, so he could emerge as a viable source of stolen bases if the Blue Jays give him enough playing time at any point in 2010. 

News: More than one baseball official with knowledge of the Phillies' off-season plan said that the team remains very much in the picture to acquire Halladay from the Blue Jays, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Impact: Toronto is looking for a premium package of young, major-league-ready players and prospects. The Phillies have been reluctant to part with Kyle Drabek in previous talks for Halladay. It is unclear if the Blue Jays would still insist on Drabek as part of any package for Halladay. 

News: MLB.com is reporting that Blue Jays' catcher Rod Barajas has filed for free agency. Barajas is interested in returning to the team next season, and the Jays have also expressed some interest in bringing him back.
Impact: The Jays may try to upgrade at the position in the offseason, but Barajas will certainly be on their radar. He played in 125 games wth the team last season, and he hit .226 with 19 homers and 71 RBI. 

News: If Roy Halladay is dealt this offseason, it will likely come before the end of baseball's annual winter meetings on December 9, speculates the Toronto Star.
Impact: The paper believes there are as many as ten possible trade candidates for Halladay. It also says the Jays will seek a "young mid-rotation starter with an upside, a top pitching prospect, a possible major-league shortstop and an outfield prospect." They probably missed their best chance at a package that lucrative last July.  

News: Lyle Overbay may soon be traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks, according to the Toronto Star.
Impact: The D-Backs lack depth at first base, while Toronto would like to shift Adam Lind there. Overbay made his major league debut with Arizona back in 2001. At age 32, he is a career .279 hitter in over 3,300 at-bats.  

News: McDonald filed for free agency on Friday.
Impact: The Jays are without a shortstop with Marco Scutaro also filing for free agency so they could decide to bring him back if the asking price is right but he'll test out the free agency waters first. 

News: Scutaro filed for free agency on Friday, the team's official site reports.
Impact: Scutaro's looking to parlay a career year into a nice contract so it's hard to imagine the Jays will pony up the necessary money but they have expressed an interest in bringing him back. Look for the team to offer him arbitration in order to receive draft pick compensation should he sign elsewhere. 

News: The Blue Jays are in talks with the Diamonbacks about sending Overbay to Arizona in exchange for catcher Chris Snyder, the Arizona Republic reports.
Impact: Overbay is heading into a contract year, and would be the starting first baseman if he does move to Arizona. The acquisition of Overbay would allow the D-Backs to keep Brandon Allen at Triple-A Reno for an extra year of seasoning. 

News: Millar filed for free agency on Thursday, the team's official site reports.
Impact: Millar won't be back with the Jays after hitting just .223 in 78 games. 

News: The Jays have claimed Jarrett Hoffpauir off waivers from the Cardinals, according to Toronto's official twitter page.
Impact: Hoffpauir could develop into a solid hitter in the majors, but could also be hindered by poor defensive skills. He won't start in Toronto as long as Aaron Hill remains intact at second base as well.  

News: Murphy was designated by assignment on Tuesday, the Blue Jays' official site reports.
Impact: The Blue Jays have 10 days to release, trade, or re-assign Murphy. The 28-year-old reliever posted a respectable 3.18 ERA in 11.1 innings with Toronto, but a 7.95 ERA in 45 games with Triple-A Las Vegas. 

News: Hoffpauir was claimed off waivers from the Cardinals by Toronto on Tuesday, the Blue Jays' official site reports.
Impact: Hoffpauir has played most of the past three seasons with Triple-A Memphis, and 2009 was his most impressive season. The 26-year-old hit .291 with 14 home runs, 53 RBI and a .843 OPS in 108 games. He also saw limited work with the Cardinals, hitting .250 in eight games. Hoffpauir is a natural second baseman, but unlikely to play there much for Toronto with Aaron Hill in place. Hoffpauir did play seven games at shortstop for Memphis, and could be a candidate to replace Marco Scutaro if he leaves the Blue Jays via free agency. 

News: The Reds may be interested in free agent to be Marco Scutaro, according to Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated.
Impact: The 34-year-old Scutaro is coming off a career season, batting .282 with 12 home runs, 60 RBI and 14 stolen bases in 2009 for Toronto. He would be an ideal temporary solution at shortstop for many teams, not just the Reds.  

News: The Associated Press reports Vernon Wells will undergo surgery next week to repair damaged cartilage in his left wrist. He is expected to be ready for spring training.
Impact: Can they work on his swing while they are in there? Wells, who will be entering the third year of a seven-year, $126-million contract in 2010, hit just .260 with 15 home runs and 66 RBI last season. His on-base percentage was an abysmal .311. It's going to be a long five years in Toronto for the Blue Jays and Wells. 

News: Wells will have surgery next week to repair damaged cartilage in his left wrist. The team announced Tuesday that Wells is expected to be ready in time for spring training.
Impact: Wells, who is entering the third season of a seven-year, $126-million contract extension, hit .260 with 15 home runs and 66 RBIs in 158 games last season. 

News: Encarnacion underwent successful surgery on his left wrist last Friday, the Toronto Star reports.
Impact: Encarnacion had a bone spur removed. He is expected to be healthy in time for spring training. 

News: Wells is expected to undergo surgery on his left wrist next week, the Toronto Star reports.
Impact: The surgery will hopefully repair some cartilage damage in Wells' hand. He is expected to be ready for the beginning of spring training. 

News: Barrett was designated for assignment on Thursday.
Impact: It's unclear if he'll opt for free agency, but Barrett's fantasy value is essentially zero at this stage of his career. 

News: MLB.com writer Jordan Bastian reports Toronto claimed Henn off waivers from Baltimore.
Impact: The 28-year-old is unlikely to be a fantasy option at any point. 

News: The Toronto Blue Jays have claimed pitcher Sean Henn off the Baltimore Oriole roster, according to the team's Twitter page. Henn pitched 14.1 innings for the O's last season, and he had a 7.54 ERA.
Impact: Henn wasn't protected by the O's, and the Jays felt like it was worth it to take a chance. Henn is a lefty who showed the ability to strike guys out last season, punching out 15 in 14.1 innings. Despite his ability to miss bats, there's little reason to pay Henn attention in fantasy.