Blue Jays, Marlins trade becomes official

Bud Selig has approved the twelve-player trade that sends Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle to Toronto.

Marlins rumors: Ricky Nolasco next on trading block?

Miami may not be done clearing payroll for next season.

Marlins fans resigned, despondent after yet another "fire sale"

The Miami Marlins made a whole bunch of changes and a whole bunch of promises before to the 2012 season in an attempt to rejuvenate their organization. But as things went south rather quickly, Jeffrey Loria and company have taken it upon themselves to wipe last season from the history books completely. Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson, Mark Buehrle, Emilio Bonifacio and John Buck are all on their way north to Canada for a bunch of Blue Jays prospects and a few "meh" major leaguers.

For Michael Jong over at Fish Stripes, there’s no way to look at this deal, as a Marlins fan, and retain any faith that the organization will ever head in a new, positive direction:

There is no denying that there is one common theme about this Marlins trade, the one theme that you will hear echoed many times over in the next few days on this site and others: this is a fire sale.

This deal is like accomplishing the entire 2006 fire sale in one fell swoop, knocking out everyone with significant major league money and talent away in one massive, depressing trade. Never mind what the Marlins got in return…

This trade had very little to do with getting the best return and had everything to do with dumping the salary of 2012 alongside the memories of a broken season. The Marlins opted to burn the entire house down following a tragedy of a season rather than building upon what they had with measured intelligence…

And with that, the trust of the fan base, which was already beginning to be skeptical in the latter stages of 2012 as the team fielded a series of scrubs at various positions, has been completely shattered.

The Fish Stripes community mostly shared in Jong’s depression and frustration with the team:

Even Mets fans took the time to join in and commiserate:

Maybe someone can invest in a bullet train from Miami to St. Pete so fans can hop on the Rays bandwagon. I hear they need fans.

Blue Jays fans rejoice at megatrade with Marlins

Christmas (…or Boxing Day?) has come early for Toronto Blue Jays fans. Just hours after word emerged that general manager Alex Anthopoulos was "itching" to pull off a trade for starting pitching, he (potentially*) pulled off one of the biggest trades in MLB history, acquiring Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson, Mark Buehrle, Emilio Bonifacio and John Buck for a hodgepodge assortment of Blue Jays, young and old.

So what do Toronto fans think of their shiny new toys?

I think they like them.

At the moment, the trade has whopping 88% approval rating among the Bluebird Banter faithful. If they were to re-hold the presidential election today, I think it’s safe to assume that Anthopoulos would take all of Canada’s electoral votes in a landslide.

Here’s just a bit of the fan response for your perusal, because real-time reactions are the best:

I do suggest that some people put their clothes back on though. It can get cold up there...

As amazing and roster-shaking as this move is for both sides (sorry, Marlins fans), Anthopoulos may not be done yet. The Blue Jays still have four catchers on their 40-man roster, meaning that J.P. Arencibia, Bobby Wilson or the newly acquired John Buck could be on the move before too long (assuming Travis D’Arnaud’s place is safe).

*Still awaiting MLB approval, of course.

Blue Jays-Marlins Trade: Miami receiving prospect Anthony DeSclafani, sending cash

Marlins-Blue Jays Trade: Giancarlo Stanton is pissed off, plain and simple

Miami Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton is apparently pissed off at the as-of-yet not-completed mega trade that would send Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson, and Mark Buehrle to the Toronto Blue Jays:

Alright, I'm pissed off!!! Plain & Simple

— Giancarlo Stanton (@Giancarlo818) November 13, 2012

Stanton, 23, was drafted by the then-Florida Marlins in the 2nd round of the 2007 MLB Amateur Draft. As a pre-arbitration eligible player, Stanton is set to make a little under half a million -- a far cry from the ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY MILLION DOLLARS the Marlins will likely save by shipping three of their highest-paid players north.

If I'm the young star, I'd be pissed off too.

What he needs to remember is that the Marlins are exactly what we thought they were: a club that appears to be in bed with local officials, bilking locals out of tax dollars to build a stadium they probably didn't want, acquiring a bunch of players through free agency that didn't turn the club around the way they expected, and a club with a history of holding huge fire sales when they get bored.

All that said, it might be time to turn twitter off for a few days. Stanton clearly has no idea what's happening and is emotionally invested in the immediate. The Marlins have a decent track record of doing this and turning the whole ship right back around in a couple years.

Jake Marisnick, Henderson Alvarez among players heading to Miami in blockbuster trade

The Marlins are receiving top outfield prospect Jake Marisnick and starting pitcher Henderson Alvarez as part of Tuesday evening's blockbuster trade with the Blue Jays.

Blue Jays reportedly nearing huge blockbuster trade with Marlins involving Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson, Mark Buehrle

A potentially huge trade is in the works that could send Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle to Toronto.

Blue Jays rumors: Anthopoulos "itching" to make trade

Toronto's GM is reportedly seeking starting pitching on the trade market.