Image from instagram.com user “nataliedlong”.

It’s been almost six days since the biggest trade in Marlins history occurred, but after long deliberation (and probably for Bud Selig to save face and show concern for Marlins fans), MLB has finally approved of the mega deal that had the Marlins trade five players to the Blue Jays in exchange for major league players and prospects. To make room on the 40 man roster, Joel Carreno has been designated for assignment. The deal is expected to be announced by Alex Anthopoulos Tuesday morning at 9:30AM, where he is also expected to discuss other Blue Jays matters in addition. Most likely it will be streamed live on mlb.com.

Since then, the Blue Jays have signed Melky Cabrera to a 2 year/$16M deal that looks to be very favourable for the club. For the last week, it seems that everything is coming up Blue Jays. A team that used to be popular and well known during the late 80′s/early 90′s, there has been all kinds of noise attracted from “the trade” by writers of many varying baseball clubs. It’s the kind of excitement that has not been around in Toronto for quite some time; Toronto may finally have a team ready to contend for a championship.

I know that it may be the type of statement that will draw claims of hubris, but it has been a while since Toronto has had a team they can really rally around. The Raptors have a career 550-806 record with a .406 winning percentage and have never been to the NBA Finals in the franchise’s 18 total years. The Maple Leafs haven’t made the playoffs since the 2003-2004 season and have not been a real contender since the 2004-2005 lockout. The Argonauts are poised to compete for the Grey Cup on home AstroTurf on Sunday however, with the exception of diehard fans, the Argonauts only get real attention when they are in the Grey Cup Final. In addition, 75% of the 8 CFL teams make the playoffs anyways, making it one of the easiest sports to make the playoffs.

The biggest problem Blue Jays fans have now is that with the new financial flexibility that Rogers has shown and allowed Alex Anthopoulos to work with there is a greater expectation when it comes to results. With a payroll hovering around $120M for the 2013 season, fans are expecting the world. Even with a lineup that could compete for the playoffs in any division, comments sections of various blogs and media outlets have fans hungry for more. While it may be nice if the Blue Jays picked up Jonny Gomes to platoon 1B/DH or yet another 2-4 starter to push J.A. Happ out of the immediate rotation, let’s not get carried away. Spending money for the wrong reasons is what happened in the 2008 season when the Jays spent almost $98M in payroll to finish in 4th place. The team is in uncharted territories finance-wise; at least let them find a manager first! Then maybe we can talk about the final pieces.

What I can say as a fan of the team is that this is the first time there’s been a real buzz about the Toronto Blue Jays that I can remember in my lifetime. While I was around for the 1992 and 1993 World Series runs, I have no memory of these occasions, as I was too young at the time. The buzz of sports excitement in Toronto, for the longest time, has been towards the Toronto Maple Leafs. With a lockout occurring with no end in sight and a reinvigorated squad ready to compete in 2013, it may very well be the Blue Jays’ time to shine again in the great city of Toronto.

Update (5:22 PM): sportsnet.ca and all 4 regional Sportsnet channels will broadcast Tuesday’s 9:30 AM press conference, as tweeted by Mike Cormack.

Alex Anthopoulos is ready to make a splash this winter. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

During the long winter heading into the 2013 season. Anthopoulos is going to have to put an emphasized effort into rebuilding the major league club as well.

Specifically, the Toronto general manager is going to have to focus on the starting rotation, and building it into a weapon that will support a fairly strong offensive ball club.

“The focus is really on the rotation,” Anthopoulos recently said. “It doesn’t mean we’re not going to look to get better, offensively or in the bullpen, but you see teams that have pitched but didn’t score as many runs and [remained] in contention.”

Unfortunately, this winter featured a lackluster field of available starting pitchers. I’ve already had my say about Toronto’s need to not only pursue, but win Zack Greinke this offseason. However, outside of Greinke, the field is drowning with guys like Ryan Dempster (37-years-old), Edwin Jackson, Kyle Lohse, Hiroki Kuroda, and Anibal Sanchez. Dan Haren could also become a viable target if the Angels choose to decline his $15.5 million option, as they are expected to do.

Not exactly a field that inspires much excitement.

With that in mind, Anthopoulos may need to revert back to his trading ways and improve the rotation by sacrificing some of the talent he has built up in the minors.

Matt Garza is a name that will pop-up this winter, especially since the Cubs were trying to move him at the deadline prior to an injury ending his season. Theo Epstein may be asking for the sky here though, and the Jays may be relunctant to pay a high prospect-price for one season of Garza. Still, he has had success in the American League East and could bear watching this winter.

Like Garza, Josh Johnson is another pitcher that will get a lot of trade buzz. The Marlins were in full fire-sale mode at the deadline, but no teams could meet their price on Johnson. He’s due $13.75 million in 2013 and then becomes a free agent, making it unlikely that he’ll return to Toronto. That makes his adequate trade fodder.

Mariners lefty Jason Vargas quietly put a solid campaign together in 2012, comfortably hidden behind the shadow of Felix Hernandez. The Mariners are not going to move King Felix, but with some quality young arms coming up in the system, they may float Vargas out there for potential suitors. It would be pure speculation to determine whether Vargas can translate the success at Safeco to much friendlier confines of Rogers Centre, but adding a solid, innings-eater like Vargas to the rotation may be a solid move, yet cost-effective move for Anthopoulos, even if it lacks headline appeal.

Undoubtedly, more arms will become available as we push into the winter, and Anthopoulos has shown a knack for squeezing a quality trade out of thin air. It’ll all come down to what the Blue Jays want to spend to improve.

Now, it’s just a matter of transforming speculation into action.