Selig Says Wells Trade Is Valid

The Toronto Blue Jays are stuck with Mike Sirotka’s bad left shoulder.

In a 14-page decision, Commissioner Bud Selig ruled Wednesday the six-player trade that sent David Wells to the Chicago White Sox for Sirotka will stand.

With Sirotka injured and unable to pitch, the Blue Jays asked that the deal be reworked or rescinded.

Instead of awarding compensation, Selig bluntly told the Blue Jays “buyer beware.” As in, they should’ve fully checked out Sirotka before making the trade Jan. 14.

“After careful consideration of all the information before me, I uphold the transaction and deny the Toronto club’s claim for relief,” Selig said.

“Although there is a dispute about whether certain facts about Sirotka’s condition were disclosed before the clubs agreed to the trade, the Toronto club talked directly to Sirotka about his health on the day of the trade and believed it had the opportunity to make the trade conditional,” Selig said. “The Blue Jays never elected to do so.”

Toronto General Manager Gord Ash did not mention rookie White Sox General Manager Ken Williams by name, then said, “to me, the most important element is trust and the code of honor.”

The White Sox sent Sirotka, pitchers Kevin Beirne and Mike Williams and outfielder Brian Simmons to Toronto for 20-game winner Wells and pitcher Matt DeWitt.