Dickey and Blue Jays agree to terms, trade nearly done

• The Blue Jays would send at least two of Toronto's top prospects to the Mets
• The Blue Jays have until Tuesday to work out a contract extension
• Dickey asked the Mets for $13 million a season but now likely wants more

The Toronto Blue Jays already have shown how valuable they think R.A. Dickey is. Now, the American League club and the National League Cy Young Award winner are closing in on determining what the 38-year-old knuckleballer is really worth.

According to multiple reports, Dickey and the Blue Jays have agreed to terms on a two-year, $25 million contract extension that will keep him in Toronto through 2015 and facilitate what's expected to become a six-player trade.

Dickey's extension would be the final piece of a proposed trade that would send at least two of Toronto's top prospects – catcher Travis d'Arnaud and pitcher Noah Syndegaard – and veteran catcher John Buck to the New York Mets for Dickey, catcher Josh Thole and perhaps a minor leaguer.

But the key is the extension for Dickey, who was scheduled to make $5 million in 2013, the final year of his current contract. ESPN is reporting that some of Dickey's extension will include a signing bonus payable immediately, to avoid anticipated higher tax rates.

He and the Mets had been discussing a two-year extension with the stumbling block Dickey's request for $13 million per season.

Now, it's likely to take more, with news of the impending deal and the loot given to other free-agent starters providing more leverage for Dickey. Upward of $15 million a season for two or three years is the range predicted by USA TODAY Sports in discussions with several veteran agents and front office executives not involved in the Dickey situation.

Hiroki Kuroda, a 16-game winner last season who like Dickey will be 38 next opening day, recently signed a one-year deal with the Yankees for $15 million. Anibal Sanchez, a combined 9-13 for Miami and Detroit but 10 years younger, signed with the Tigers for $80 million over five years.

The Blue Jays and Dickey also will take into consideration the higher tax rates in Canada. The currency exchange rate also can be a factor but the difference is minimal – the U.S. dollar currently worth 98.6 cents Canadian.

One way to sweeten the deal for Dickey would be to add an option year based on Dickey meeting an innings requirement in the final guaranteed season. Also, if the Blue Jays are concerned about Dickey's advanced age -- despite the relatively low wear-and-tear of throwing the knuckler -- they could boost the value for 2013 beyond that of 2014 and 2015.

If the two sides are unable to reach agreement on the extension, it is unclear whether the trade would be nixed or recast in a different form.