R.A Dickey To Blue Jays Trade Is Official

Sep 11, 2012; Flushing, NY,USA; New York Mets starting pitcher R.A. Dickey gestures after giving up a two-run homer in the 7th inning to the Washington Nationals batter Tyler Moore (not pictured) at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Farrell/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY SportsWhile it took only four days to grow from rumor to pending transaction, the trade that is bringing R.A. Dickey to the Toronto Blue Jays seemed to drag out for much longer. Now, with an agreed upon trade in place and the necessary extension hammered out between Dickey and Blue Jays, the deal if finally official.

R.A. Dickey will be joining Josh Johnson, Brandon Morrow, Mark Buehrle, and Ricky Romero in Toronto’s rotation next season.

The two teams came to the agreement on Sunday, with Toronto sending top prospects Travis d’Arnaud and Noah Syndergaard, along with John Buck and Wuilmer Becerra to the Mets in exchange for Dickey, Josh Thole, and Mike Nickeas.

The final piece of the puzzle was Dickey agreeing to an extension with the Blue Jays, which he did Monday afternoon. The reigning National League Cy Young winner will make $5 million in 2013 under his previous contract with the Mets, then $12 million in both 2014 and 2015. The deal includes a team option for 2016 at an additional $12 million. The $24 million extension is $2 million below what Dickey had been asking for from the Mets.

All and all, the deal is a win-win for both teams. The Mets get to speed up their rebuilding process while shedding some payroll, while the Blue Jays acquire the ace their were looking for, at a rate well below market value (see Anibal Sanchez for a comparison as to where the market is). Yes, Toronto had to delve deep into their farm system to make a deal happen, but there is still plenty of wealth in a system that Alex Anthopoulos can be truly proud of.

For Dickey, it is definitely a win. He moves on to a team with designs on winning a championship, getting a get out of jail free card that likely saves him from spending his last three seasons holding down the fort for a rebuilding team. His addition to the Toronto rotation creates an unique mix of pitchers that will present teams with a different look on a nightly basis.

Now all that awaits the 2013 Blue Jays is the heavy expectations that will be levied against them. However, after years of not knowing what to expect, the anticipation of playing up to those expectations are a welcome change for the team and its fans.