Springer’s Toronto deal official now
Three-time all star George Springer was officially signed to a sixyear, US$150 million contract by the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday.
The deal, originally reported on Tuesday, includes a $10 million signing bonus and allows the outfielder to block trades to over a half dozen clubs.
The 31-year-old Springer will earn $22 million in 2021, $28 million in 2022 and $22.5 million in 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026.
Springer, of the US, spent the past seven seasons with the Houston Astros. In 795 games, he compiled a .270 career average and recorded 174 home runs and 458 RBIs.
Last season, Springer hit 14 home runs and 32 RBIs in 51 games.
Springer is known for his generous charity work which includes being a spokesperson for the Stuttering Association for the Young and hosting an annual bowling charity event in Houston.
He also donated $100,000 to the Minute Maid ball park employees who lost their jobs because of the Covid19 pandemic.
After announcing the deal, the Blue Jays’ World Series odds have been slashed by more than half since the start of the off-season.
The Blue Jays were being offered at +7000 by PointsBet shortly after the Los Angeles Dodgers won the 2020 World Series. Three months later, those odds have been shortened by more than 50 percent to +3000, putting Toronto among the top half of the teams in the American League.
Consider, too, that FanDuel (+2200) and DraftKings (+2500) like the Jays’ chances even more, raising Toronto to eighth and 11th in the odds standings.
In addition to Springer, the Blue Jays have signed right-hander Tyler Chatwood and reliever Kirby Yates.