Will impetuous Blue Jays panic and overpay for Reds starter Luis Castillo?

The Toronto Blue Jays fired their manager today. That's right, in the middle of a playoff race, the Blue Jays fired Charlie Montoya. This comes after Toronto has lost eight of their last 10 games and are clinging to the final Wild Card spot in the American League.

What was the reason for the Blue Jays moving on from Montoya? We don't yet have all the answers, but it's a safe bet to assume that underperformance had something to do with it. The Jays were expected to be one of the upstart teams this season, but they're currently sitting in fourth-place in the AL East.

The Blue Jays have also been rumored to be one of the many teams interested in trading for Cincinnati Reds starter Luis Castillo. Will Toronto's desire to compete this season be so strong that the Blue Jays overpay for Castillo?

Would the Blue Jays overpay for Reds RHP Luis Castillo?

To this point, it appears as the Cincinnati Reds are sitting back and waiting for the offers to come pouring. I believe that's a sound strategy, as some teams may become more and more desperate as the deadline approaches.

There's also teams like the high-flying Baltimore Orioles who may suddenly go from seller to buyer at the deadline. The O's have won nine straight games and are just a couple games back of the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL Wild Card picture.

Might Toronto be so desperate that they actually overpay for Luis Castillo services? It's questionable as to whether or not the Blue Jays even have the assets to make a deal with the Reds. But if this latest development surrounding Toronto's manager is a sign that expectations are heightened, then perhaps the Redlegs can capitalize on the Jays' impulsivity.

While we don't yet know the whole story, it seems as though the Toronto Blue Jays acted rashly by firing Charlie Montoya. If this was due to lack of performance and impatience on the part of ownership, you'd have to assume that Toronto will be looking to upgrade their roster at the deadline. This could bode well for the Cincinnati Reds.