While Anthopoulos claimed Friday he did not tell Arnsberg to look for a job, that the Astros called him asking for permission to talk, Houston’s GM Ed Wade had a different view on how the Arnsberg deal came about.

“We were really excited when we found out he was available,” Wade said. “There were some unresolved issues, and they gave him a chance to go out and look around, and he very quickly moved up to the top of our list.”

That sounds far different than the scenario described by the Jays. The fact is, when Gaston was asked Saturday about his personal relationship with Arnsberg, he skated around it as gracefully as Tie Domi on Battle of the Blades.

“He was always sitting talking with Halladay,” Gaston said. “Arnie was a hard worker, but I didn’t have as much (of a relationship) with Brad as the other (Jays) pitching coaches (I’ve worked with).”