The Ship Be Sinking

Exciting drama in the Blue Jays clubhouse led to the release of 1B/3B/DH Shea Hillenbrand. I've been following the coverage closely in the Toronto Star and the Toronto Sun, so let me try to break down what happened.

Saying the Jays designated Hillenbrand for assignment because of what he wrote on a whiteboard is like saying WWI started because of the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand.

It all started about two months ago, during an interleague series in Colorado. With no DH, Hillenbrand was benched for all three games. After that series, Hillenbrand went to manager John Gibbons' office to ask for more playing time.
It became a fight and Hillenbrand says Gibbons "reamed him out" and called him a cancer and a coward.
Some Blue Jays players did say that Hillenbrand was a selfish player who was happy when he was playing, and unhappy when he wasn't.
Last Friday, Hillenbrand and his wife adopted a baby. Hillenbrand claims no one high up in the organization congratulated him. He also says they rushed him back (he left Friday and returned Tuesday, an hour before the game). The team originally wanted him back Monday but gave him an extra day. I think Hillenbrand got pissed when they asked him to come back and he still wasn't in the lineup.
Before Wednesday's game Hillenbrand reportedly wrote "play for yourselves" on a whiteboard that is used for batting practice times. Catcher Greg Zaun added "and for your paychecks."
Some also reportedly wrote "this is a sinking ship" (not "the ship be sinking") on the whiteboard.
Before the game Vernon Wells called a players-only meeting but John Gibbons bursted in screaming at Hillenbrand. Hillenbrand admitted to writing on the whiteboard (which he says lots of players do) but denied being the author of the sinking ship line.
Hillenbrand claims Gibbons was screaming at him, daring Hillenbrand to punch him in the face. Gibbons denies that part but one Blue Jay says it's the maddest he's ever seen Gibbons.
A few minutes after that the Jays designated him for assignment, meaning they must trade or release him within 10 days (of Wednesday).
Adding to the divorce-like nature of this, GM J.P. Ricciardi said the two sides had "irreconcilable differences" and that "this had nothing to do with him adopting a baby."
Hillenbrand was batting .301 with 12 homers and 39 RBI this season. Seems like he could be a good risk for a team that can use an extra stick.