June 2011 - Toronto Blue Jays Wiretap

The Blue Jays have agreed to a one-year deal with left-handed reliever Darren Oliver, according to sources. The agreement includes a team option for the 2013 season. Oliver, who turned 41 in October, was a key member of the Rangers bullpen the past two seasons.

The Cubs appear to want a young starting pitcher in an trade for right-hander Matt Garza. The Yankees and Blue Jays have the type of young arms that Chicago would desire and a need for a starter.

The belief is that Cubs president Theo Epstein will trade right-hander Matt Garza this winter. There are a number of teams looking for a starter and the Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Tigers and perhaps even Orioles could discuss him with Chicago.

Carlos Beltran, who eventually signed with the Cardinals, had a number of American League suitors as a free agent. The Indians, Blue Jays and Red Sox all offered Beltran the designated-hitter role as a way to prolong his contract or career. "I want to play in the field at this stage of my career," Beltran said. "I feel I can still make a difference in the field. If you're having a tough day offensively, you can go out and play good defense and still change the game. If you're a DH, there's nothing you can do with a tough day."

Edwin Encarnacion may have a new position with the Blue Jays soon. Encarnacion, not known for his strong defensive play in the past, was mainly a designated hitter with Toronto in 2011, seeing some duty at third base and first base. He has played left field in four of his first five games. There has been talk in circles of giving him a shot at left field next season.

The Nationals have acquired Gio Gonzalez from the Athletics, but the Red Sox and Blue Jays were also in serious pursuit of the left-hander. Boston offered a package of players that was heavy on position players, while Toronto was willing to part only with low-level prospects with a lot of risk.

There are seven teams, including two from the National League East, that are interested in signing veteran right-hander Roy Oswalt to a one-year deal, according to a report. Three of the seven teams in the race are expected to be long shots. The Marlins, Nationals, Red Sox and Blue Jays are believed to be the most realistic landing spots.

The Rangers won the bidding rights for Japanese right-hander Yu Darvish with a $51.7 wager this month. The Blue Jays were believed to be the main competition for Texas, but the amount separating the two teams may not have been as close as initially thought. Early reports suggested that Toronto's bid was within $2 million of the winning bid, but Jon Heyman of CBS Sports writes differently. He writes that reports of the Blue Jays bidding $50 million for the right to negotiate with Darvish are "absolutely false and inaccurate."

Carlos Beltran is expected to select his next team this week, a source familiar with his plans said. The Cardinals have been one of the teams pursuing the switch-hitting outfielder, who has varied offers from five different teams. The Red Sox and Blue Jays have also been linked to Beltran.

The winning bid for Japanese right-hander Yu Darvish may not be revealed for a few days, but the amount is expected to be high. The bid is expected to approach $50 million and the Blue Jays and Rangers are the teams most mentioned as his suitors.