Rule 5 Draft gives Blue Jays financial flexibility
Toronto flips Moran to Halos for international cap space, cash considerations
By Gregor Chisholm / MLB.com | 12/12/2013
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Blue Jays used the fifth pick in the Rule 5 Draft on Thursday morning to gain a little bit more flexibility on the international market.
Toronto selected left-hander Brian Moran from the Mariners, but the Blue Jays then traded him to the Angels for international cap space and cash considerations. Toronto will receive $240,000 in cap room from the Halos, which can be used on international free agents.
The move was essentially a no-brainer for the Blue Jays, considering they didn't have much use for a Rule 5 Draft pick and have interest in at least one international player.
"We knew we weren't necessarily going to be active in the Rule 5 [Draft]," general manager Alex Anthopoulos said. "We have a bunch of out-of-option guys in the bullpen already that we're going to look to keep, plus [Moises] Sierra is out of options. "We weren't so compelled with what was out there. We didn't think it was an upgrade over what we had. [We] just tried to turn the asset of having a spot and convert it into something."