The Toronto Blue Jays are 2 1/2 games back of the Baltimore Orioles for first in the American League East and currently hold the second AL wild card spot with a two game-lead on the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners. With other teams having already made moves, the Jays are in prime position to be buyers before Thursdays trade deadline. There has been speculation that the Jays have made a recent push in trying to acquire the services of Boston Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester. The problem, however, is whether or not the Jays are willing to go all in this year and sell their most highly-touted prospects. According to TSN Baseball Analyst Steve Phillips, "the Red Sox will ask for Marcus Stroman or Aaron Sanchez and are going to add more prospects on top of that; probably a three-player package with one of those starters and big arms in the deal going back to Boston." The Red Sox would not necessarily be against dealing Lester to their divisional rival because the likelihood of the 30-year-old re-signing with Toronto is slim. "I think they [Red Sox] would trade Lester to the Blue Jays to get the best package in return, understanding theyre not really going to compete against Toronto to re-sign Lester next year. Theyre not worried about winning this year; theyre worried about winning next year." The Red Sox starting pitcher - who was pulled out of his scheduled Wednesday start against Toronto late Tuesday night - is 10-7 with a 2.52 earned-run average this season. Phillips believes the Blue Jays are also considering other options at lower prices to add to their pitching depth, including a possible reunion with Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher A.J. Burnett. "I think theyre in on A.J. Burnett," said Phillips. "But you might also see them in on Ian Kennedy, you might see them in on a Bartolo Colon or a Tommy Milone from the As, so there is a number of things that can still happen with some pretty good pitching available." Burnett spent three seasons with Toronto from 2006 to 2008. This year with the Phillies, hes 6-10 with a 4.15 ERA in 149.2 innings pitched. The option is more appealing if the Jays are not willing to part with Stroman or Sanchez. Stroman has become one of their hottest starting pitchers over the last two months. The 23-year-old has allowed two or less runs in seven of his last nine outings. Since being called up on July 22, Sanchez has pitched four innings out of the bullpen and has yet to walk a batter. Regardless of the young talent, other teams in the American League are getting better through last season trades. The Yankees acquired Chase Headley from the San Diego Padres and Brandon McCarthy from the Arizona Diamondbacks earlier this month. The Mariners re-acquired Kendrys Morales, the Athletics traded for Jeff Samardzija and the Tigers picked up Joakim Soria. Phillips thinks its the Jays time to show the American League that they are in it to win it. "This is the year for the Blue Jays to go for it;" Phillips explained. "When can you predict again that youre going to have the Red Sox in last place in the division, the Rays struggling under .500 and the New York Yankees trying to figure out who they are and if they can truly compete. "John Gibbons was in the Mets organization when I was general manager and he used to say to me all the time Steve, you only get a chance to go there every so often. Go for it when you have the opportunity. Gibbons is probably saying the same thing to Alex Anthopoulos." Jaromir Jagr Jersey .Kessy tried to show what he can do playing left wing for the Oilers in 5-0 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday in pre-season action. 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Teammate Chris Egi had 20 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks.Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn.ca. On Sunday, Detroit Red Wings forward Gustav Nyquist scored what could very well be the goal of the year. As he broke in on the net he was clearly held and the ref had his arm up to call a penalty, or penalty shot, but allowed Nyquist to continue on his breakaway first. If a second infraction was committed on Nyquist, a trip or a slash for example, before he scored the goal, would both calls be wiped out or would the Red Wings be awarded the goal and a power play. Thanks for taking the time to read my question. Matt NimmoBrampton CLICK HERE to watch the play in question. Matt: After being fouled by Matt Carle on a breakaway, Gustav Nyquist demonstrated amazing patience, persistence and the hands of a surgeon in order to regain puck possession with both skates well below the goal line and then slide the disk into the net past Ben Bishop from what appeared to be an impossible angle. Not many players, past or present, possess the skill and instinct required to spin and thread the needle at full speed to score a goal from that location on the ice. Your question, Matt, has several variables for us to consider. The assessment of a penalty shot is designed to restore a scoring opportunity which was lost as a result of a foul being committed by the offending team. On the initial part of this play all parameters of the rule were satisfied for referee Wes McCauley to impose a penalty shot once Gustav Nyquist was clearly fouled from behind by Matt Carle and denied a reasonable scoring opportunity. I am certain that McCauley intended to award a penalty shot to Nyquist had he not scored or other criteria were to develop during the delayed call. As Wes McCauley demonstrated, the referee must delay the call until the offending team gains possession of the puck. If during this delay, Gustav Nyquist or any other Red Wing player had regained a reasonable scoring opportunity (or opportunities) yet no goal resulted, the initial penalty shot call would revert to the assessment of a minor penalty. The next to impossible shot by Nyquist would not have qualified as him regaining a "reasonable scoring opportunity." A penalty shot would have been awarded if the puck had not gone in the net as specified in rule 24.8 (iii)—The fact that he (Nyquist) got a shot off does not automatically eliminate this play from the penalty shot consideration criteria. If the foul was from behind and he was denied a "more" reasonable scoring opportunity due to the foul, then the penalty shot should be awarded. Allow me to answer your direct question, Matt, and aalso play out some other scenarios that could result, with the understanding that if the foul for which the penalty shot was awarded was such as to normally incur a minor penalty, then regardless of whether the penalty shot results in a goal or not, no further penalty shall be served.dddddddddddd. (Major, Match and Misconduct penalties would be assessed in addition to the penalty shot.) In addition, no penalty being served on the clock will expire when a goal is scored on a penalty shot. • If the penalty shot infraction committed by Matt Carle was such to incur a double-minor penalty (i.e. high-stick resulting in injury), the first minor penalty would not be assessed since the penalty shot was awarded to restore the lost scoring opportunity. The second minor penalty would be assessed and served regardless of whether the penalty shot results in a goal. It would be announced as a double-minor penalty and the player would serve two minutes only. (This would also be the assessment in the case where Nyquist (or Wings) scored prior to play being stopped to award the penalty shot resulting from a double minor infraction.) • If a Tampa player (or bench) was assessed an additional minor penalty on this play (separate from the hooking minor infraction to Carle that resulted in the penalty shot), the Tampa minor penalty would be served on the clock regardless of whether the penalty shot results in a goal. • Although it is not currently in the Officials Situation Handbook, conventional wisdom states (until further advised), if both of the above situations were to be satisfied (double minor plus a second minor penalty) one minor of the double minor infraction is eliminated to restore the lost scoring opportunity and the stand alone minor infraction is also assessed and served. A 5 on 3 manpower situation would occur regardless of whether the penalty shot results in a goal. (Presently no "Captains choice" extended in this scenario to allow for team option to play one man short for 4 minutes or two men short for 2 minutes). • Should two penalty shots be awarded to the same team at the same stoppage of play (two separate fouls), only one goal can be scored or awarded at a single stoppage of play. Should the first penalty shot result in a goal, the second shot would not be taken but the appropriate penalty would be assessed and served for the infraction committed. Thanks for the thought provoking question, Matt. I trust the answer pretty much covers all the bases for you. Cmon Ref extends Happy Birthday Wishes to Gordie Howe, who is 86 years young today. My bet is that "Mr. Hockey" would have also been able to score from the angle that Gustav Nyquist did last night in Hockeytown, USA. 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