*Photo from Bleacher Report*
After missing out on some big free agents, the Toronto Blue Jays finally got their guy. The team has signed OF George Springer to a 6 year deal worth $150 million, according to MLB Network's Jon Heyman. Springer’s contact is the richest in Blue Jays history, topping the contracts of Vernon Wells and Russell Martin. The Blue Jays have confirmed the deal.
Springer had an effective 2020 for the Houston Astros, posting a .265 average with a .899 OPS, hitting 14 homers and 32 RBI in 51 games played for the Astros in the short 60 game season. In his 7 year career, Springer is a .270 hitter with an .852 OPS, hitting 174 homers and 458 RBI in 795 games played, all in an Astros uniform.
The Blue Jays and New York Mets had been the two finalists for Springer for a bit now, but after the Mets splurged on Francisco Lindor, as well as James McCann and Trevor May, the Blue Jays became the front runner as they would still have room under the luxury tax threshold to sign him, while the Mets would likely have crossed over it.
The Springer signing is very similar to how the Blue Jays were able to sign Hyun-Jin Ryu last season, and Springer will give a young Blue Jay clubhouse some veteran influence as well as postseason experience, as he won the world series with the Astros in 2017, despite the controversy surrounding it. Springer had reportedly been the top target for the Blue Jays all winter, and they got what they were after.
Springer joins a Blue Jays outfield that already has Randal Grichuk, Lourdes Gurriel Jr, and Teoscar Hernandez as starters, but the addition of Springer will push one of the three into a 4th outfielder role, serving as a starter only when one of the other three need a day off or are injured. The Blue Jays also added Kirby Yates to the bullpen, and are in the market for starting pitchers as well.
Comments
Post a Comment