Rumors are going around that the Cubs are talking to the Blue Jays about a trade of Milton Bradley for Vernon Wells. The thing that will make the Blue Jays’ brass consider making this trade is that they are on the hook for 5 more years and $107 million bucks for Wells. Bradley is owed 2 more years at $21 million bucks. The Cubs would want to split the difference on salaries meaning that the Blue Jays would have to send them $43 million bucks with Wells. Sure, Wells had one of the worst seasons in his career but does that mean you off him for the biggest head case in all of sports just to save $43 million bucks? I’m glad I don’t have to make that decision because I can see where it might tempt them especially if they think that Wells is going to continue to decline. Wells played in 158 games for the Blue Jays last season and he was 164 for 630 (.260 avg, .711 OPS) with 84 runs scored, 15 homers, 66 RBIs and 17 stolen bases. He has now played in 1,236 games in his career for the Blue Jays and he is 1,368 for 4,880 (.280 avg, .799 OPS) with 710 runs scored, 192 homers, 725 RBIs and 84 stolen bases. Don’t forget another factor if they do indeed pull the trigger on this trade and that is the Blue Jays would have to get another center fielder in either another trade or free agency because they don’t have anyone ready to take Wells’ place on the current roster.

31-year old switch hitting Milton Bradley would likely be the DH for the Blue Jays if he were to come to Canada. He played in 124 games for the Cubs last season and he was 101 for 393 (.257 avg, .775 OPS) with 61 runs scored, 12 homers and 40 RBIs. Bradley is a ticking time bomb every single day that he is on your baseball team and do the Blue Jays really want to deal with that just to save some cash? Bradley has now played in 941 games in his major league career and he is 904 for 3,260 (.277 avg, .821 OPS) with 501 runs scored, 115 homers, 439 RBIs and 76 stolen bases. The Blue Jays should just say no to Milton Bradley who is a injury prone team cancer.

If re-signing Marco Scutaro doesn’t happen for the Blue Jays this winter look for them to possibly scour the trade market. Two names to keep an eye on would be Reid Brignac of the Rays and Mike Aviles of the Royals. Brignac would likely require the Blue Jays to give up some pitching (likely relievers) to get him. A combination of two of the following pitchers: Jeremy Accardo, Brandon League and Brian Wolfe would probably get the job done. If the Blue Jays don’t want to give up that much for Brignac they likely could get Mike Aviles for Wolfe as the Royals really need help in the pen. I would make the trade with the Rays as Brignac is younger than Aviles.

The Blue Jays could be selling soon and they have a ton of veterans who could be made available. The biggest player that could move from Toronto is Roy Halladay. To get him the Blue Jays would have to ransack a team for at least four of the top 10 prospects in there system and a little more than that. Alex Rios could also net a nice package in return for the Blue Jays based on his age and talent level. Scott Rolen and Brian Tallet could also net a couple of decent prospects in return. Veterans Rod Barajas, Kevin Millar, John McDonald, Raul Chavez and Shawn Camp could all bring some fringe prospects in return. Look for the Blue Jays to be a different team come August and it might help them down the road.

The Blue Jays aren’t working with a lot of cash but they have a few needs. They need a couple of starting pitchers due to injuries to Dustin McGowan and Shaun Marcum that will cause them to miss most if not all of the 2009 season. The Blue Jays have a lot of live bullpen arms in lefties Fabio Castro, Brian Tallet and righties Brandon League and Jason Frasor who are available. Although Marco Scutaro and Joe Inglett played well for the Blue Jays last season they still need an upgrade in the middle infield for 2009. The Blue Jays could take a chance on Josh Barfield from the Cleveland Indians. The Indians would likely take either Frasor, Tallet or League straight up for him. If the Blue Jays want to spend a little bit more money they could go for Khalil Greene or Bobby Crosby. Either the Padres or A’s would likely jump at getting League or Tallet for Crosby or Greene. The Blue Jays could also move Russ Adams or John McDonald but neither of them have much value and would likely be nothing more than throw ins.

A.J. Burnett keeps saying that he wouldn’t mind getting traded to the Chicago Cubs so I was thinking about a trade that would make sense for both sides and I’ve come up with one. The Blue Jays would send A.J. Burnett and infielder Marco Scutaro to the Cubs for infielder Ronny Cedeno, outfielder Matt Murton and pitchers Kevin Hart and Sean Marshall. This would not be a white flag trade by the Blue Jays as it would help them a lot. Cedeno would become the starting shortstop of the Blue Jays with David Eckstein sliding over the 2B until Aaron Hill is ready to return to action. The 25-year old righty swinging Cedeno has played in 46 games for the Cubs this season and he is 29 for 104 (.279 avg, .723 OPS) with 20 runs scored, 1 homer, 19 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. 27-year old righty swinging Matt Murton would immediately be the starting left fielder for the Blue Jays over the group on non productive veterans who are sharing the job right now. Murton has only played in 9 games for the Cubs this season and he is 3 for 17 (.176 avg, .398 OPS) with 2 runs scored and 4 RBIs. But, Murton has been successful in the majors as he has played in 298 games in his major league career and he has a batting average of .294 with a .812 OPS. Murton has also scored 126 runs, whacked 28 homers and he has 102 RBIs in his career to date. Kevin Hart is a 25-year old righty reliever who would likely come right up to the Jays. He has pitched in 12 games (0 starts) for the Cubs this year and he is 2-1 with a 6.62 ERA and a 2.04 WHIP. Hart has now pitched in 20 games (0 starts) in his major league career and he is 2-1 with a 4.40 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. 25-year old lefty Sean Marshall has been a reliever this season but he would likely take Burnett’s spot over in the rotation. Marshall has pitched in 13 games (0 starts) for the Cubs this season and he is 0-0 with 1 save, a 4.15 ERA and a 1.73 WHIP. Marshall has now pitched in 58 games (43 starts) in his major league career and he is 13-17 with a 4.81 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. Basically, if A.J. Burnett doesn’t want to be in Toronto the Jays should get rid of him.