Domonic Brown finds a new home with the Blue Jays

It can be difficult to know when it is time to stop talking about ex-Phillies as part of the Phillies news cycle. Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, and Cliff Lee can all still smile and nod after seeing their names in the headlines of this hallowed site past their time with the team, but a guy like Jeff Manship going to the Indians this winter is for some reason disregarded.

Maybe it's not so difficult to know, but those were the two extremes. Somewhere in the middle is Domonic Brown, former Phillies outfielder, top prospect, hope for the future, 2013 NL All-Star/Player of the Month of May, and Sporting News' worst left fielder in the game in November 2014. His .272/.324/.494 season in 2013 is currently considered the ceiling on an otherwise forgettable stretch of inconsistency and injury from 2011-2015. Here is an image of him finally standing up to the demonic voices in his head.

Brown's life as a Phillie concluded this past October, when he was outrighted off the roster. People have blamed the mismanagement of Brown during his prospect days as a reason for his struggles; others take the easy route and blame Brown himself. It's a complicated, clearly f***ed relationship that needed an ending. It got one.

And now, for the news: the 27-year-old Brown could be suiting up in Toronto for the AL East champion Blue Jays in 2016. Perhaps they will use Brown as a shield against right-handed pitching, against which he has had more success. In any case, he will be fighting for space this spring in one of MLB's most nuclear lineups, against the likes of Dalton Pompey, Ezequiel Carrera and Junior Lake.

Stay tuned later for a post on ex-Phillies outfielder Ezequiel Carrera competing for a roster spot in Toronto. And yes, the Phillies and Blue Jays play each other June 13-16. Also, all spring training long.