A source close to George A. King III of the New York Post says that the Toronto Blue Jays want New York Yankees right-handed pitcher Joba Chamberlain in exchange for left-handed reliever Scott Downs. Chamberlain was previously asked for by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Dan Haren negotiations. Haren eventually went to the Los Angeles Angels.

There have been rumors over the last few days regarding Downs. The last we heard, the Yankees and Boston Red Sox were nose-to-nose on acquiring the reliever.

“It’s the Yankees and Red Sox,” said yesterday’s source ”And he is clearly the best reliever out there.”

The Blue Jays asked the Red Sox for infield prospects Casey Kelly or Jose Iglesias.

The buying price is obviously too high for both the Red Sox and Yankees.

“You can ask for anything,” an NL talent evaluator said. “That doesn’t mean you are going to get it. Let’s see where it goes Saturday.”

King adds, “If the price on Downs falls, the Yankees may meet it because, with Damaso Marte on the disabled list with shoulder woes, Boone Logan is Joe Girardi’s lone lefty in the pen. And while Logan’s control has been better lately, it’s been an issue throughout his career.”

Downs has about $1.33 million left in salary for this year. He’s very effective against left-handed hitters with batters hitting .185 against him. Overall both left and right handed hitters are batting .240, so he’s pretty good overall.

In other Yankees news, the team has contacted the Baltimore Orioles about Ty Wigginton. The Orioles are ready to sell Miguel Tejada, but the reaction from the Yankees is “lukewarm at best.”