The Toronto Blue Jays have lost one of their most consistent overall players since 2005 when the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim signed veteran bullpen arm Scott Downs to a three-year deal worth $15 million yesterday.

Downs, one of the most effective relievers in all of Major League Baseball, pitched his most successful season in 2008 when he posted an earned run average of 1.78 in 66 appearances.

The 34-year old lefty pitched well for the Blue Jays again last season appearing in 67 games earning a record of 5-5 with an ERA of 2.64 in 61.1 innings of work.

The native of Louisville, Kentucky was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the third round of the 1997 entry draft and has pitched in several different scenarios in his career, including starting, being a seventh inning man, an eighth inning set-up man and even a closer.

For his career Downs has posted a record of 27-28 with an ERA of 3.79 in 570.2IP across 379 games pitched, 50 of which were starts. He has also recorded 16 saves in his career.

It was very unlikely that the free-agent would be returning to Toronto as the team looks to get younger and with Downs being a Type A free agent the compensation coming Toronto’s way was far too much to pass on to re-sign the veteran.

Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos knew that the chances of another team signing Downs was very good, so letting him walk has secured Toronto two draft picks in the 2011 entry draft, a first-round compensation pick as well as the Angels second-round selection, due to the fact that their first round choice is protected.

The deal is pending Downs passing his physical.

This familiar routine will not be seen by Toronto Blue Jays fans on a regular basis next season.

The deal comes less than one week after Toronto traded last season’s opening day starter Shaun Marcum to the Milwaukee Brewers for Canadian infielder Brett Lawrie, which signals that general manager Anthopoulos is sticking to his plan of going younger in an attempt to build for the future.

The loss of Downs as well as the possibility of last season’s closer and free-agent Kevin Gregg signing with many interested teams, Baltimore & Pittsburgh being of the most interest; the Jays are certainly going to rely on a revamped bullpen that will certainly feature younger arms such as David Purcey, Josh Roenicke, Robert Ray, new acquisition Carlos Villanueva and more.

Downs will certainly be missed by the Toronto fan base as the reliable lefty will no longer be seen writing his kids names in the clay of the back of the Rogers Centre mound on a consistent basis prior to every appearance, a customary Downs routine the Toronto fan base had come to know and love.

In other Jays news, the team is one of three highly involved suitors vying for free-agent catcher Russell Martin; the other teams being that of the division rival New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.

The Toronto-born Martin was non-tendered by the Los Angeles Dodgers after having a down year as well as battling injuries and would certainly be a welcome addition to the Blue Jays, as the team is still uncertain if J.P. Arencibia is ready to take over full-time catching duty which leaves last season’s backup Jose Molina as the possible opening day starter.

Martin is a two-time All-Star with a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger to his credit and is still only 27 years old.

The Red Sox are rumoured to be the favourite, but perhaps Martin will show his patriotic nature by signing with his hometown club.

The Jays also lost a prospect this week as the Rule 5 Draft took place. The team did not make a selection in the Major League portion of the draft, but did lose infielder Brad Emaus to the New York Mets on Thursday morning.

Emaus was not one of the protected players on Toronto’s 40-man roster which left the possibility of him being selected by another MLB squad open.

The 24-year old infielder hit .290 with 15HR & 75RBI last season spit between Double-A New Hampshire & Triple A Las Vegas.

Toronto receives $50,000 for losing Emaus to the Mets, but the team could receive the player back at a cost of $25,000 if the Mets do not keep him on their 25-man roster for the entirety of the 2011 season.

The team did decide to make selections in the minor-league portion of the Rule 5 draft selecting middle infielders Ivan Contreras & Roan Salas.

Contreras is 23 years old and hit .257 with nine RBI’s in 167 at-bats for the Angels organization across numerous minor-league levels, while Salas hit .345 with five home runs, 42RBI’s and 16 doubles in the Venezuelan Summer League as part of the Tampa Bay Rays organization.