Ken Davidoff came out with an interesting article over the weekend, entitled “Yanks’ $189M payroll goal has AL East’s attention“. It cites sources within the other AL East organizations and notes their reaction to the Yankees’ payroll mandate. The most interesting snippet was from the Blue Jays:

Toronto general manager Alex Anthopoulos has spoken of “a three-to-five-year period” in which the team can seriously contend. And part of that thinking, according to a person familiar with the Blue Jays’ internal discussions, ties back into the Yankees’ apparent weakening, if not specifically their payroll slashing, as well as Boston’s last-place finish in 2012.

We’ve suggested that the Blue Jays went bananas this offseason in direct response to the Yankees openly downgrading, and with this additional confirmation, it certainly seems that Toronto senses blood in the water.