USA TODAY International Edition
Blue Jays may soar with Springer
Just like that, the Blue Jays are done behaving like a small- or mid- sized market MLB team.
Finally, the Toronto franchise is playing with the big boys.
The Blue Jays shed their image with the signing of free agent outfielder George Springer to a six- year, $ 150 million contract.
Springer’s contract, which was expected to become official Wednesday, is the largest in franchise history and the team’s most celebrated free agent signing since Roger Clemens after the 1996 season.
The Blue Jays, who have won the American League East just once since 1993 – when they won their second consecutive World Series championship – are serious contenders.
Oh sure, the Blue Jays could use another starting pitcher and a third baseman, but they have outfielders they can trade in Randal Grichuk, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Teoscar Hernandez.
The Blue Jays players are still awfully young, with their fathers having much more illustrious resumes than them, including the sons of Hall of Famers Vladimir Guerrero and Craig Biggio, along with slugger Dante Bichette.
The Jays’ future hasn’t looked this bright since the days of Roberto Alomar, Tony Fernandez and John Olerud.
The signing of Springer, 31, means this much to the organization.
You’re talking about a supreme talent on the field and an even better person off the field, who is exactly what the Blue Jays needed.
They tried to trade for shortstop Francisco Lindor, sign infielder D. J. LeMahieu and grab closer Liam Hendriks, finishing on the outside looking in.
Now, they got their man, leaving free agent catcher J. T. Realmuto and starting pitcher Trevor Bauer as the top players left on the market.
Springer isn’t going to single- handedly turn the Jays into a juggernaut.
Who knows how long he’ll be able to play center field with the turf making his 31- year- old legs weary.
Can their young players continue to develop?
Will their starting rotation be enough to overcome the Yankees and the Rays in the division?
Still, the arrival of Springer gives the Blue Jays hope, and a whole lot of swagger.
This is a franchise owned by Rogers Corp., worth $ 29 billion, yes, even more than Mets owner Steve Cohen.
It’s a team that resides in a city of 6.5 million and the lone baseball team in a country with 37 million people. Now, the Blue Jays are acting like it. They are acquiring a player who has played in as many postseason games by
himself, 63, as the entire Blue Jays organization.
He is a World Series MVP, a threetime All- Star and a two- time Silver Slugger who has a career .270 average with a .361 on- base percentage and .852 OPS.
The Blue Jays’ outfield in the last full season in 2019 posted a meager slash line of .227/. 287/. 449 combined, and no one who could adequately play center field.
Now, those woes are over.
All it cost was money, outbidding the Mets, who had offered about $ 125 million over five years.
Sure, Springer has flaws.
He was part of the Astros’ sign- stealing scandal.
He has stolen more than nine bases just once in his career, and that was in 2015.
And history has shown that players in their mid- 30s can no longer can stand the rigors of playing center field.
Still, this is a magnificent addition who will be a clubhouse leader for the Blue Jays.
Springer now anchors a balanced lineup that’s capable of terrifying the American League along with Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Cavan Biggio for the foreseeable future.
The Blue Jays already ranked third in the American League last year in runs scored and fourth in home runs and now will be even stronger, no matter where they end up playing their home games in 2021 because of the COVID- 19 pandemic.