In our dreams, we are the best General Manager our teams could ever have. Reality, as always, is a much different animal. Take the recent case of The Toronto Blue Jays trade of Shaun Markum to the Milwaukee Brewers for blue chip second baseman Brett Lawrie. Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos has taken significant criticism for the deal from the Closet GM's in JaysLand who believe that the move has cost the team a critical piece of any championship drive. I am prepared to give Anthopoulos the benefit of the doubt on this deal until we get a chance to see what Lawrie can bring to the J's roster. His reputation as a 5 tool player who perhaps could play 2nd, 3rd, outfield or catch gives the organization some nice room to maneuver and juggle the puzzle pieces. It does hurt losing a proven Opening Day starter like Markum but the J's front office seems to be demonstrating some deftness of touch in building a roster that will be competitive. The issue that any of the Fantasy GM's nor the actual man himself cannot solve is the financial disparity that the Blue Jays face based solely on the division they play in and the teams that reside in that group. The Yankees contract to Derek Jeter this week puts a fine point on the reality that a team with pockets that deep can afford the kind of deal that allows their captain and signature player of a generation to retire with grace as a Yankee, diminishing skill and return on investment aside. The seismic cry that would have ensued if Jeter had gone across town to the Mets or LA or, heaven forbid, the Red Sox would have drowned out any concerns about term and amount on his latest contract. Faced with these kind of economic realities, how can the Jays really compete? Tampa had its window and now appears ready to take a step back and even though baseball watchers love the argument about small market ,small payroll Tampa or Minnesota playing deep in October, truth is you have to get their first. The AL East is the money pit of Major League Baseball, where cash is king. So, this closet GM is prepared to cut Anthopoulos some slack as he tries to build the best team that Rogers' money will allow him to field. Salary cap and expanded playoffs appear to be the best hope the Jays have to reach the post season earlier than later. In the meantime, let's enjoy the J's moves, debate their merit, relish the fact that baseball made the front pages and blogosphere in December and look forward with anticipation to Opening Day 2011.