On January 14, 2001, he was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays with Kevin Beirne and Brian Simmons for Matt DeWitt and David Wells in a deal that would infamously become labeled by White Sox General Manager Kenny Williams as "Shouldergate", as Sirotka would never pitch again, labeled "damaged goods" by then-Toronto GM Gord Ash.

In October 2002, Sirotka signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs and was invited to spring training.

If he made the Cubs' 25-man major league roster on Opening Day, his contract allowed him to make as much as $4 million with incentives.

[2] When shoulder problems persisted during the spring, the Cubs sent Sirotka to minor-league camp on March 26, 2003.

[3] While with the White Sox, Sirotka surrendered the sole career hit to country music superstar Garth Brooks, who at the time was participating in spring training with the San Diego Padres.