Springer, Blue Jays finalize $ 150 million, 6- year contract
TORONTO — All- Star outfielder George Springer finalized his $ 150 million, six- year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday, becoming the most prominent free agent to reach an agreement this offseason.
Springer, who turned 31 in September, received the largest deal in team history, topping outfielder Vernon Wells’ $ 126 million, sevenyear contract in 2006.
Springer gets a $ 10 million signing bonus payable within 30 days and salaries of $ 22 million this year, $ 28 million in 2022 and $ 22.5 million in each of the final four seasons.
The former UConn star gets a limited no- trade provision, allowing him to designate eight teams annually he cannot be dealt to without his consent.
“When you sign a guy like George Springer, it’s like, ‘ Boom. OK, perfect. This is awesome.’ ” new Blue Jays pitcher Kirby Yates said.
“It’s just exciting to be a part of ( a) team that’s trying to push really hard to go to the next level.”
A three- time All- Star, Springer had spent his entire seven- season career with Houston and was the World Series MVP when the Astros beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games for their first title in 2017.
Springer hit .265 with 14 homers and 32 RBIs during the shortened 2020 season, earning a prorated $ 7,777,778 from a $ 21 million salary.
He has a .270 career average with 174 home runs and 458 RBIs, including career bests of .292 with 39 homers and 96 RBIs in 2019.
Springer joins an emerging Blue Jays’ core that includes Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Toronto went 32- 28 last season and finished third in the AL East behind Tampa Bay and the New York Yankees. The Blue Jays reached the postseason and was swept 2- 0 by the eventual AL champion Rays in the first round.
Because Springer turned down an $ 18.9 million qualifying offer, Houston will receive an extra pick in next July’s amateur draft after the fourth round and Toronto will lose its second- highest draft pick and also forfeit $ 500,000 of international signing bonus pool space for the next signing period.