I like the deal but what does it mean for the incumbent infielders?

Also space on the 40 man is becoming tight.

Do Jays protect Josh Banks? Ryan Roberts?

I would prefer to see Chad Gaudin waived to make room for Banks.

I smell a middle infielder trade coming along, and I'm not sure that I'm going to like it.

Meh.
McDonald's no Kevin Mench.
;)
And, yes, they certainly are bunching up in the middle ... Is Adams on the move?? Hill?? ...

Well they did lose Menechino right? Mcdonald fills that spot, but I do believe that one of the middle infielders will be dealt.

I agree that this might be setting the groundwork for the dealing of an infielder (Koskie or Hudson) to make Hill a starter.

I wonder if this is a prelude to a big trade coming involving one of Adams, Hudson, Hill, or Koskie. After all, if one of them goes we'll need a backup infielder.

That was my initial reaction, especially since he was traded away because of Hill on the roster. However, I think he's taking Menechino roster spot.

The Jays always seem to go with 12 pitchers, 4 OFs, 2, catchers, 3 middle infield, 3 corner infield/DH, and another player that can play 2B/3B/SS.

The Rule 5 draft is on December 8, and the major and minor league reserve lists must be in by November 19. There will be a piece on the Jay 40 man roster next week, and then a look at the Rule 5 draft, closer to December 8.

Just how much e-ink has been spilled over a career sub-600 OPS player as last year when McDonald was dealt and this year, now that he's been re-acquired?

His mama would be proud.

I don't think McDonald will take Mennechino's spot. There will be a rh power bat on the bench, I believe. Something's up with an inf.

Here is Rotoworld's take on this:

Blue Jays acquired infielder John McDonald from the Tigers for cash considerations.
Just one week after the Tigers sent cash to the Jays to complete their acquisition of McDonald in July. This doesn't necessarily mean that McDonald is back in Toronto for good; if he wants to go to arbitration rather than accept a salary similar to the $400,000 he made last season, he could be non-tendered. Still, with Russ Adams turning in one of the worst defensive showings among AL shortstops last season, the Jays must feel they need McDonald's glove off the bench. Nov. 10 - 12:35 pm et

So...let me get this straight:

McDonald to Detroit for money.
Money to Detroit for McDonald.

Folks, this is what physicists call a displacement of zero.

A banker might describe it as a short-term loan with undisclosed interest.

I wonder if the money was the same on both ends. Maybe the cost of AJ's dinner was just too much they had to come up with a quick profit :)

Glad to see the Minister of Defence back here. I was talking to a couple clubhouse guys in September and they told me he didn't like Detroit much at all. He does, however, love it here and seems to have a bit of a cult following like Menechino and Iorg did.

I'm sure the PM is just happy he's still collecting a Major League cheque.

We need to start a contest on when he will hit his first HR as a Jay. I have dibs on Game 112.

If the Tigers win outbid the Jays for A.J. Burnett by $40.00 then I'll be pissed.

Something must be up. My guess is that Adams is moving on, and that McDonald will be understudying for Hill, just as he did for Adams last year.

Why does something have to be up? JP seems to have put a premium on defence. Having a cheap late inning replacement at short will just help shore up the D.

I guess JP reads this board after all.

Johnny Mack is back! I had a sinking feeling when he had a couple key late inning RBI singles as a Tiger last season; but now it seems the pieces of the puzzle are falling into place.

I really hope that you are right Dave Till and that Adams is on his way. But i have a feeling it will be Hudson. He is the one with the real trade value.
J mac wasn't brought back for nothing and the only player that he would fill in for on d would be Adams.

McDonald could fill in for Menechino.

Thats a good point, but what was Frank's role last year? I think he was just relief of the bench. Johnny mac has a more to offer then Frank, On the bat and in the field. Frank played most games at second and DH. Mac is utility and had better numbers batting last year.

Johnny mac has a more to offer then Frank, On the bat and in the field. Frank played most games at second and DH. Mac is utility and had better numbers batting last year.

While McDonald is better defensively, it's not right to say he "had better numbers batting." Because he didn't. McDonald had one better number -- batting average, and it was an extremely empty .290.

Menechino beat him in OBP, SLG, HR, H, 2B, R, RBI and probably some others. In their careers per 162 games, it's not even close:
McDonald: .241/.281/.312, 2 HR, 21 RBI.
Menechino: .240/.358/.383, 13 HR, 54 RBI.

Not that it matters much, mind you. The two of them combined for 241 AB last year with Toronto.

meh I dont see the point in Jonny Mac returning >_<! Russ is really good and we need to keep him. who we need is burnnet and some way to trade lilly, hinske and batista in a 3 team deal to get Manny

i like adams but i like johnny mac more. I'm a defensive fan and like the stronger short stop. Thats the reason i like Reed in Left rather then Cat. I think Cat should be the DH and the team should drop either Hinske or Hillenbrand. As for Lilly i also agree we could do without him. I would like to see Ryan be brought in as our closer and Batista return to the rotation. But hey, thats just me.

So Menechino is getting a demotion rather than a much-deserved promotion? What exactly does the Staten Island OBP Machine have to do to get some respect?