In a stunning move,  the Miami Marlins reportedly agreed to a trade on Tuesday that would send five veterans, including former All-Stars Mark Buehrle, Josh Johnson and Jose Reyes, to the Toronto Blue Jays for shortstop Yunel Escobar and a package of prospects.

The trade has since been criticized as another Marlins fire sale, with more than $160 million in salary being sent to Toronto. But on Wednesday, Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria defended the trade in an interview with CBSSports.com, saying that the organization has “to take a new course.”

“We finished in last place. Figure it out,” a defiant Loria said.

Loria emphatically said he isn’t selling the team.

“Absolutely not,” Loria said. “That’s more stupidity.”

Loria took issue with the coverage and suggested selling the team’s veteran stars was the right course of action.

“We have to get better,” Loria said. “We can’t finish in last place. We finished in last place. That’s unacceptable.”

Meanwhile, the team is reportedly also looking to trade outfielder/first baseman Logan Morrison and starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco, according to Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post:

Several GMs expect #Marlins to trade Ricky Nolasco. Marlins also shopping Logan Morrison—
Joe Capozzi (@joecapMARLINS) November 14, 2012

The Yankees are interested in the 30-year-old Nolasco, reports Erik Boland of Newsday. One player the team almost certainly will not shop is 23-year-old slugger Giancarlo Stanton, according to MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro.

Miami Marlins’ outfielder Logan Morrison will have arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, according to MLB.com. Morrison will be recovering for six to eight weeks, and he is not expected to miss any spring training.

“He will be on a bike in about a week, and he will be ready for Spring Training,” Morrison’s agent Fred Wray said on Thursday. “So obviously, it’s not lengthy.”

Morrison, 24, appeared in 123 games last year for the Marlins, providing solid power numbers. He hit 23 home runs and drove in 72 runs while batting .247/.330/.468.