So, what else has been going on in baseball land while the most interesting trade in the last ten years for the Blue Jays was being finalized? Well, there is one piece of news that I haven’t seen raised anywhere that affects the Jays. John Lackey signed a 5 year, $82.5 million deal with Boston. While that's been reported, what I haven't seen mentioned, unless I’m mistaken, is that this signing echoes AJ Burnett’s in more than just the dollar value. Because Boston signed Lackey it means the compensation pick the Jays receive for Scutaro will now be Boston’s second rounder and not their first. Just like last year, Toronto’s “A” free agent will only net them a second round pick and a supplementary pick, as opposed to a first-rounder.
Boston also signed Mike Cameron to a 2-year, $16.5 million deal and now look to have a very strong defensive outfield, with Cameron and Jacoby Ellsbury both very strong in the field. In other news from around the majors, Baltimore made a splash and signed former Braves reliever Mike Gonzalez to a 2-year, $12 million contract with an extra $4 million in incentives. Gonzalez, a southpaw, will likely close, with Jim Johnson setting him up, although that order could be flipped depending on the matchups. The Orioles also signed Garrett Atkins to a one-year deal. Financial terms have not been disclosed.
Former Oriole Rodrigo Lopez signed a minor league deal minor league deal with Arizona and was invited to spring training, joining former Jays minor leaguer TJ Beam. Meanwhile, former Expo and fan favourite Jamey Carroll chose Los Angeles over Oakland and signed a 2-year, $3.85 millon deal with the Dodgers. Last, but not least, World Series MVP Hideki Matsui signed a one-year $6 million deal with the Angels, who may have been the biggest loser in the Halladay-Lee blockbuster.
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20091217102521723