The current rumor is that the deal is Rasmus for Jackson and Eric Thames.  Thames is actually being interviewed by Miklasz on the radio right now.

I'll admit I know little about Eric Thames, but he's a 24 year old left handed hitting outfielder with more cost control than Rasmus (Thames is a rookie this year).  He's hitting .299/.346/.503 since being called up by Toronto with 4 HR and 19 RBI in 159 ABs

Before being called up, Thames was hitting.352/.423/.610 at AAA.  Last season, in AA, he hit .288/.370/.526 with 27 HR and 104 RBI.  It appears he's mostly a corner outfielder.

Last edited by forsberg_us (7/27/2011 11:36 am)

The Chatmeister is reporting the Cardinals will get Jackson, Dotel and Rzepczynski.

Dotel's numbers are OK, but they can't even think of using him in the closer's role.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6111;_ylt=Al5YH05BvVfa0DQ2aPXI_heFCLcF

Liking this deal a little better now.

Good news, the Cardinals also get Corey Patterson, per Olney.

El Diablo:

The Cardinals are on the verge of trading center fielder Colby Rasmus to the Toronto Blue Jays for a multi-player package including starting pitcher Edwin Jackson and relievers Octavio Dotel and Marc Rzepczynski, according to sources familiar with the situation. An announcement could come early this afternoon.
The deal is pending approval by Major League Baseball since the Cardinals will receive cash considerations as part of the deal.
Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak will apparently move Rasmus only hours after the Chicago White Sox dealt Jackson in a four-player trade to the Blue Jays as part of a de facto three-team swap. After insisting two weeks ago that Rasmus was not for trade, Mozeliak attempted to auction the team's 2005 first-round draft pick among the Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox, according to sources familiar with the process. Mozeliak Wednesday morning declined a package that would have included Rays starter Jeff Niemann and lefthanded reliever J.P. Howell plus a prospect. Mozeliak remained insistent that the Rays include either James Shields or Jeremy Hellickson rather than Niemann, according to a source.
The Red Sox, who have been a stealth contender for Rasmus for two weeks, also tendered an offer.
The Blue Jays deal offers an obvious win-now look. Jackson is a pending free agent. Dotel, 37, has been on the Cardinals' radar before.
Rzepczynksi, 25, is a cost-controlled player who fills the Cardinals' increasingly obvious need in lefthanded relief.
The Cardinals have yet to formally announce the deal or the roster moves necessitated by adding the three.
Trading Rasmus, 24, ends a complicated relationship that in recent weeks has seen manager Tony La Russa question the young outfielder's willingness to accept instruction. Jon Jay has steadily encroached on Rasmus' playing time, allowing Mozeliak the flexibility to placate both La Russa and the player with a trade. Rasmus is arbitration-eligible after this season and, according to a source familiar with the situation, was involved in discussions over a possible contract extension before La Russa first made public his criticisms on July 10.
Rasmus has declined to speak to media since the club returned from its nine-game road trip.

artie_fufkin wrote:

Unless Raz developed a 95 mph fastball, they weren't going to win with their bullpen either.

Agreed, so they should've stood pat or not dealt Rasmus. There's too much uncertainty about the future right now, mostly in right field.

I'm going home at lunch today to order the MLB TV package.

Also, I like Edwin Jackson, but I'd like him a lot more if he wasn't slated to be a free agent in two months.

tkihshbt wrote:

Also, I like Edwin Jackson, but I'd like him a lot more if he wasn't slated to be a free agent in two months.

Think of the package as Jackson, Rumplestiltskin or whatever his name is and McClellen added to the bullpen.
And exorcising Miller and Tallet is bound to make you feel better.

tkihshbt wrote:

I just can't get behind it. I can't believe that this is the best they could do.

I agree.  Cory fucking Patterson? Really?!?  I like the idea of them dumping Miller and Tallet because with the bullpen help coming it would be pointless to keep them.  I thought if they traded Rasmus they would have to get a player that fills a major issue on the 2012 team.  If they are going for the win now approach they should have went bigger.

I'm going to side with Tk on this one.  Fine, perhaps the team is better in 2011.  But then Jackson and Patterson leave for free agency and what the Cardinals have to show for Rasmus is an option on 38 year old Octavio Dotel and a lefty specialist.

IMO, this is a horrible, horrible trade.

"Rasmus has declined to speak to media since the club returned from its nine-game road trip Sunday but, according to a family member, was "extremely" pleased by the move."

alz wrote:

Corey Patterson - This hurts, I like this deal a lot more if he's not on it.... However, we can probably use him as a bench player/runner. Good speed still, paid way too much though... Hope Toronto covering salary.

"The deal requires approval by Major League Baseball since the Cardinals will receive cash considerations as part of the deal."