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The Jays had built fans into such a lather about prospects that it is still hard for some to break out of the mindset, to continue to believe that waiting for guys like Syndergaard (who now has all of one MLB start) and d’Arnaud (150 big league games over three years) would have been somehow worth it if they still had some of the other pieces dealt away in that off-season of excitement.

Adeiny Hechavarria is an outstanding defensive shortstop for the Marlins, and Alvarez is an excellent groundball pitcher who’d fit in the middle of any rotation. Jake Marisnick (traded last July by the Marlins to Houston) is getting playing time in the Astros outfield, too. But the rest have, so far, been non factors at the big league level. And the Jays, much more quickly than those aghast at their actions at the time might have believed, have absorbed the hit to their farm system and continued producing talent — even as they’ve kept on shipping it out, as in the trade that brought Josh Donaldson last November.

It didn’t have to be Dickey, though. And it didn’t have to be Syndergaard and d’Arnaud going the other way.

Seeing Syndergaard now, fawned over as he embarks on what’s supposed to be a big-time career in the majors, only would seem to reinforce those initial fears. But given the circumstances of it, getting wistful for his departure seems to be misplaced. No matter how much those who want to believe they’d have calmly weathered two more rebuilding years may disagree, proudly saying “Well, I didn’t like the trade at the time,” rings about as hollow as “Don’t blame me, I voted for Kodos.”