Jays snatch Koskie away from Twins?

From the Seats, December 13, 2004

ANAHEIM - Reports at the end of last week indicated that Koskie was close to signing with the Twins, all he needed was $9-10 million and a no-trade clause.

A no trade clause is something that Terry Ryan doesn't do much, in fact I don't think he has ever negotiated one. Yet it appeared that Koskie and the Twins were close to something by the end of last week.

Now reports say that the Blue Jays are in the fight for Koskie until the end and will pay to get him. If the money that Koskie could be getting from the Jays is true it doesn't make any sense why he has not signed yet.

I would think that if the offer of near $20 million for 3 years is on the table to Koskie to play in Toronto, in front of fellow Canadians, he wouldn't think twice about it.

It would be a good move for the Jays, to bring a Canadian player back home. And it appears that the Jays might be serious enough to offer up a tone of money to Koskie.

UPDATE: Koskie close to going to Jays

From the Seats, December 12, 2004 - 8:50 PM CST

TORONTO - Sporting News is reporting that the Jays are close to signing Corey Koskie to a 3 year $16-17 million deal.

If this is the case, I don't think a no-trade clause would make the difference to stay with the Twins since the Twins were on the lower side of what Koskie was looking for. I would be surprised to see the Twins with a $10 million no-trade clause offer to Koskie, and I think that is the only way he can stay a Twin now.

I think Koskie gave us a lot of false hope with asking for the no-trade clause late last week.

UPDATE: Koskie agrees to deal with Jays

From the Seats, December 12, 2004 - 10:25 PM CST

TORONTO - The Star Tribune reports that Corey Koskie has agreed to a deal with the Blue Jays. Details not yet released.

UPDATE: Koskie unlikely to remain with Twins

From the Seats, December 12, 2004 - 10:36 PM CS

TORONTO - The Twins front page is reporting that Koskie is near a deal with the Blue Jays. From the horses mouth, Terry Ryan, it is very unlikely the Twins will be able to keep Koskie.

A's Big Three now down to Two

ANAHEIM - On Sunday Oakland traded Tim Hudson, one of the big three for the A's to the Dodgers for Edwin Jackson and Antonio Perez.

Hudson was looking for a new contract or would leave as a free agent after next season. The A's had one of the best rotations in the game, yet they never made it out of the first round of the playoffs, and this past year failed to make it into the playoffs at all.