Mega-trade gets MLB approval

The deal between the Blue Jays and Miami Marlins, who unloaded about $160 million in payroll after moving into a new, publicly financed stadium, was approved by Major League Baseball on Monday despite protests from the Florida community.

The 12-player deal, which sent high-priced Miami players including shortstop Jose Reyes and pitchers Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle to Toronto in exchange for promising young players, was agreed upon last Tuesday but had been under MLB review.

"We've finished in last place the past two years, and that is unacceptable to our fans, to us as an organization, and to me," said Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria, according to MLB website mlb.com.