The Miami Marlins and Toronto Blue Jays are in talks for a blockbuster trade that would move Jose Reyes to Toronto, according to sources around the league, as reported by ESPN.com.
The deal will also include ace pitcher Josh Johnson, starter Mark Buehrle, catcher John Buck and outfielder Emilio Bonifacio.
According to ESPN.com, the Blue Jays would send troubled shortstop Yunel Escobar and two prospects (outfielder Jake Marisnick and shortstop Adeiny Hechevarria), plus more to the Marlins.
"Just about any (Marlins) player making money is going to Toronto," a source told ESPN.
Jose Bautista of the Blue Jays tweeted: "It's a good day to be bluejay!"
Reyes and Buehrle both signed long-term deals in the offseason, including a six-year, $106 million deal for the shortstop. Buehrle signed a four-year, $58 million deal.
The move continues the amazing fall for the Marlins franchise that had huge expectations entering the 2012 season after bringing in manager Ozzie Guillen and finishing construction on the new multi-billion dollar stadium in Miami.
During the offseason the Marlins were re-branded as the Miami Marlins and a new logo and uniforms were introduced. The team signed a number of new players and Marlins ownership promised the fans that the franchise was moving into a new direction.
Guillen got everything started off on the wrong foot when he made comments praising Fidel Castro that angered the heavily Cuban community in the Miami area and resulted in a five-game suspension.
Guillen said: "I love Fidel Castro ... I respect Fidel Castro. You know why? A lot of people have wanted to kill Fidel Castro for the last 60 years, but that motherfucker is still here."
The play of the team didn't help matters either. The team played poorly all year and in mid-season the Marlins traded franchise player Hanley Ramirez to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The team finished with a 69-93 record, one of the worst in the National League. The Marlins were 35-46 at home and ranked in the bottom-six of baseball in runs, batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
After the season ended with the Marlins in last place in the AL East, the team fired Guillen and traded Health Bell, who also signed a long-term free agent deal last year, to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The contracts the team signed in the offseason ended up being complete disasters.
Bell signed a three-year, $27 million contract, but was extremely ineffective at the beginning of the season and lost his closers job. He got into arguments with Guillen and eventually was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Reyes had a solid season offensively, hitting .287 with 11 home runs and 57 RBIs, but didn't come close to the expectations a $100-million deal brings. Buehrle was also subpar this season, going 13-13 with a 3.74 ERA.
So for anyone counting, of the three major free agents the Marlins signed during the offseason, zero are left on the team.
More information on this deal will continue as it comes....
