This is going to be hard. Trying to think of memories...

I remember when Piniella pulled Gaudin out of the game in the first inning in 2004.

And why does Gaudin get a thread, but everyone forgets about Kenny Huckaby? :)

Dave Maurer never got a thread either! :)

I guess Gaudin's best moment in the Toronto organization wasn't in a Jays uniform but in a Skychiefs one. He nearly had a perfect game before it was broken up in the bottom of the 9th during a week-day afternoon game at Alliance Bank Stadium.

I vaguely remember him pitching out of a bases loaded situation with nobody out when he was up here during a home game but then he got shelled the next inning. I think it was during one of his starts but I can't remember who it was against.

Tom Verducci's only at-bat during spring training last year came against Gaudin. He fouled out to first.

Odd trade. Why not let him come to camp and try to win a spot in the bullpen when you are protecting players on the 40 man who have zero utility.

It's not really the trade that's odd, but some of the 40 man roster decisions made a couple of weeks ago. We'll see if they come back to bite.

In the wake of the Burnett signing, another 40 man roster move will have to be made.

Ryan Houston and Miguel Negron would be the first two I'd take off of the 40 man roster. But I'd do that anyway to open up a spot to try and get Mulhern or Sing in Rule 5.

Perhaps we'll see a 2 for 1 trade that'll make the space.

Does anyone know what the window of time is to make room for a player when the 40 man is full?

The next two off the 40 man roster will likely be Pete Walker and John Hattig.. Both seem very unnessicary at this point.

I wouldn't make any assumptions about players coming off the 40 man. If Hattig is healthy, he makes a reasonable low cost corner IF back-up. This might be important to the team in the new financial environment.

I don't see a place for any Rule 5 pickup on the 25-man, though I agree with Pistol that Houston and Negron are the most expendable if they have to make room for Burnett. Another minor trade could solve the "problem" easily enough. The trick is to DFA someone who has already attracted inquiries; presumably Oakland has always liked Gaudin.

Maybe the PTBNL will be a 2005 draft pick like Jared Lansford -- a youngster who can gradually develop on the farm. It's probably someone closer to the Show, depending on who the A's have left after Rule 5. The Jays could use better results in Triple-A next year, as Syracuse fans, media and ownership are getting impatient for a contender.

Presumably, it's a win-win arrangement. There's nothing wrong with making mutually beneficial deals with your friends. During the incredible injury epidemic of '04, Beane made Frankie Menechino available for a pittance. If this deal ends up appearing a bit lopsided the other way, some of us might consider it payback for that timely favour.

Not much in the way of Gaudin memories to share, other than talking to him during BP and the game (he was charting) when Gerry and I saw the Chiefs in Buffalo last summer. He's a smart, likeable young man with a filthy slider. So long, Chad, we hardly knew ya. Best of luck in the West.