Angels signed LHP Scott Downs to a three-year, $15 million contract.

He'll also have an opportunity to earn an additional $1 million based on number of games finished. Downs is a fine reliever, but that's a pretty fat contract for a guy that isn't guaranteed to be your closer. The Angels are expected to go into the 2011 season with a committee in the ninth inning, and Downs will be given a shot to be part of it, along with Fernando Rodney and possibly others.

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that the Angels have signed Scott Downs to a three-year, $15 million contract.

It includes a possible $1 million more in incentives based on games finished. Rosenthal says Downs is taking a physical now, so the deal could become official soon. Downs is a very good reliever, but that's a steep price to pay, especially since the Angels will also have to surrender their second-round pick for the Type A free agent. The lefty posted a 2.64 ERA and 0.99 WHIP for the Blue Jays in 2010. He could end up setting up Rafael Soriano, who the Angels are expected to go after hard.

Red Sox GM Theo Epstein expects to sign a reliever soon, perhaps within the next week.

Scott Downs, Matt Guerrier, Jesse Crain, Brian Fuentes and Kevin Gregg are all options for the Red Sox. "The bullpen remains a priority," Epstein said. "That market has seemed like it was on the verge of really moving for the past two or three days... It hasn't quite yet, so we're still involved with a number of relievers through free agency and a couple through trade."

According to Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse, other teams believe the Red Sox will sign Scott Downs.

This shouldn't come as a surprise. The Red Sox would have been reluctant to give up a first-round pick for Downs (a Type A free agent) before, but things have changed now that they signed Carl Crawford. Plus, they'll be able to replenish their lost picks for losing Victor Martinez and Adrian Beltre.

Scott Downs declined the Blue Jays' arbitration offer.

Downs is a Type A free agent and will net the Jays two draft picks if he signs with another club. A left-hander, he posted a 2.64 ERA and 48/14 K/BB ratio over 61 1/3 innings this year. He's already drawn interest from the Yankees, Red Sox and Angels, and should score a multi-year pact.

Scott Downs will reject arbitration from the Blue Jays.

Because Downs is a Type A free agent, the Blue Jays will receive two draft picks if he signs with another club. The 34-year-old left-hander posted a 2.64 ERA and 48/14 K/BB ratio over 61 1/3 innings this past season. According to Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com, Downs has drawn interest from the Red Sox, Yankees and Angels, among others. He is likely to land a multi-year contract.

The Blue Jays offered arbitration to Scott Downs.

A no-brainer move for the Jays. Downs is a Type A free agent and will net Toronto two draft picks when he signs elsewhere. The 34-year-old lefty posted a 2.64 ERA, 48/14 K/BB ratio and 0.99 WHIP in 61 1/3 innings this year and will be on the hunt for a lucrative multi-year contract this winter.

According to Ken Davidoff of New York Newsday, the Yankees are unlikely to pursue free agent left-hander Scott Downs.

The Yankees want a left-handed reliever, according to Davidoff, but are reluctant to give up a draft pick for the Type A free agent. They won't be alone there. One possible alternative is free agent left-hander Pedro Feliciano, who will not cost a draft pick.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman would like to find a left-handed reliever this winter to pair with Boone Logan.

They aren't counting on Damaso Marte (shoulder surgery) next season and might just cut him loose. Scott Downs and Pedro Feliciano will be available, and the Twins almost surely will not pick up their $9 million option on Brian Fuentes, so the Yanks will have options. Cashman also mentioned left-handed Manny Banuelos by name, but he would like to have Banuelos keep starting for the time being.

The Blue Jays are not expected to bring back pending free agents Scott Downs and Jason Frasor.

Both relievers are Type A free agents. The Blue Jays would like to get compensatory picks for both players, but it remains to be seen how much interest they'll receive when teams know they'll have to give up a first-round pick to sign them. The Jays are expected to bring back Kevin Gregg, for which they hold a reasonable $4.5 million option.

Scott Downs, Jason Frasor, Kevin Gregg and Shawn Camp were all claimed off waivers, according to Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun.

It's not known who the teams are, but don't get all worked up about this. Just because a player is claimed doesn't mean they are necessarily going anywhere. Downs and Frasor will be free agents after this season and could net the Blue Jays some draft picks should they sign elsewhere, so they'd be silly to let them go unless they receive a few good prospects in return.

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports that the Blue Jays have placed left-handed reliever Scott Downs on waivers.

Downs could draw interest from a variety of contenders seeking left-handed relief. He's posted a 2.32 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP over 50 1/3 innings this season while holding left-handed batters to a .172/.284/.281 batting line. But, remember, the Jays were asking the world for him at July's deadline.

The Reds are in on trade talks for Scott Downs, according to the Toronto Globe's Jeff Blair.

The Reds could use another left-hander to pair with Arthur Rhodes, but the price on Downs is reportedly sky high, so it's probably not likely that a trade happens. The Mets, Yankees, Giants and Twins are among other teams that have expressed interest in the lefty, though the Twins are likely now out of the picture since they acquired Matt Capps.

A source tells Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com that Twins haven't given up their pursuit of Blue Jays' left-hander Scott Downs.

Jon Heyman of SI.com is reporting that the Mets turned down a deal that would have sent outfield prospect Kirk Nieuwenhuis plus another prospect for Scott Downs.

This continues a string of lofty demands from the Jays for their left-handed reliever. It's true that Downs has been probably the most consistent and best left-handed reliever in the major leagues the past three years, but he's still a reliever, and he's still a free agent at the end of the year. We'll see if he gets dealt this year at all if the Jays continue to ask for top prospects.

Jon Heyman of SI.com reports that the Giants are interested in Scott Downs.

They join a number of teams who are interested in the left-hander, but the Blue Jays are asking for top prospects in return at the moment. If they are truly intent on moving him, they'll have to lower their demands.

Jon Heyman of SI.com reports that the Blue Jays asked the Yankees for top prospect Jesus Montero in exchange for left-hander Scott Downs.

That's not gonna happen. This, on the heels of the Jays reportedly asking the Red Sox for top prospects Casey Kelly or Jose Iglesias. Either the Jays are reluctant to trade inside the division or they are completely irrational.

Alex Speier of WEEI.com reports that the Blue Jays are seeking "one or two" top prospects in exchange for lefty reliever Scott Downs.

That won't be happening. Downs is enjoying a nice 2010 campaign and would make a great addition to any contending team's bullpen, but not at the cost of a future star. The Yankees and Red Sox are believed to have the most interest. The Twins, Mets and Reds have also been linked.

The price tag for reliever Scott Downs is high, according to ESPN's Buster Olney.

The Blue Jays feel that they should be compensated extra in any deal for Downs due to the fact that he is likely to be a Type A free agent at the end of the season and they could receive a pair of draft picks if he signs elsewhere. However, some rival executives think that shouldn't matter, because they don't think any team would give up two draft picks to sign a non-closer. It will be interesting to see if a) Downs gets traded at all and b) if he is, what Toronto is able to get for him.

Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse reports that the Yankees and Red Sox both have "big-time" interest in Blue Jays reliever Scott Downs.

This should be at least a little fun for the Jays, who get to take bids from two division rivals over the next few weeks. Downs, 34, has posted an excellent 2.56 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 30/8 K/BB ratio in 43 appearances this season while holding left-handed hitters to a .196 batting average. Any team could use a reliever like that, and other contenders are likely to join in.