Springer agrees to six-year, $150 million deal with Blue Jays.
2017 World Series MVP reportedly agrees to six-year, $150 million deal with Toronto
A face and voice of an Astros era is gone. George Springer, he of an infectious smile, incredible postseason pedigree and lethal leadoff swing, will not return to the city that watched him blossom.
Springer and the Toronto Blue Jays are in agreement on a deal that, according to multiple reports, will pay him $150 million across six seasons. When it is official, the Astros will bid adieu to their leadoff hitter, clubhouse heartbeat and effervescent center fielder whose arrival signaled the start of the franchise’s return to relevance.
Springer departs as the franchise’s leader in postseason home runs and doubles. He is the only Astro to win a World Series MVP award after finishing the sevengame win over the Dodgers in 2017 with eight extra-base hits, including five homers, in 29 at-bats. Springer is second only to Hall of Famer Craig Biggio among the greatest leadoff hitters in franchise history.
Now, Springer will play alongside Biggio’s son Cavan on a Toronto team that reached the 2020 postseason and seems poised to threaten the New York Yankees for American League East supremacy. Securing Springer, the most sought-after position player on the free-agent market, only enhances the Blue Jays’ chances.
Though they must rebuild their outfield, the Astros never were viewed as a legitimate threat to keep Springer. He declined their $18.9 million qualifying offer in November, ensuring the team will get draft pick compensation in 2021 for his departure.
Springer was afforded multiple opportunities during the 2020 season to say whether he wanted to return. He never replied defin
itively but made sure to acknowledge Astros fans and the city with each answer. Springer’s low profile away from the field led to a mostly quiet offseason, during which the Astros never appeared to be an actual suitor for his services.
“He’s one of the best players ever to wear an Astros uniform,” general manager James Click said of Springer in October. “He’s a tremendous human being; he’s a tremendous leader in the clubhouse. We wouldn’t be doing our jobs if we didn’t pursue players like that either from another organization or from here.
“But at the same time, we have to contend with the fact that there’s tremendous uncertainty within our industry right now.”
According to Spotrac, Houston has a little more than $150 million committed to its 2021 payroll. Click, who has in multiple interviews brought up the industry’s reported losses of $2 billion to $3 billion because of the pandemic, still is seeking bullpen help, must acquire at least one outfielder, and could be in the market for a backup catcher.
The Blue Jays, meanwhile, had just $73 million committed to their 2021 payroll. Springer’s contract will be the richest in team history. When it ends, he will be 36.
As a 21-year-old, Springer was selected by the Astros with the 11th pick of the 2011 draft, the final run under the Ed Wade regime. As he grew, Springer became an early face of Jeff Luhnow’s plans to rebuild the Astros’ moribund farm system and produce a sustained winner. Sports Illustrated famously put Springer on a 2014 magazine cover that correctly predicted an Astros World Series win in 2017.
First-round picks Carlos Correa and Lance McCullers Jr. followed in 2012.
Though fans yearned to see Springer and the other prospects Luhnow accrued, Springer toiled in the minor leagues during 100loss seasons in 2012 and 2013 before finally being summoned to the Astros in April 2014. That he did not debut earlier was a product of blatant service time manipulation to save the Astros money.
When he finally appeared, Springer became must-see television, teaming with tiny second baseman Jose Altuve and bearded ace Dallas Keuchel to guide the team on a wild card run in 2015. He chose the music for Club Astros during that season, putting strobe lights and fog machines inside a clubhouse that only gained confidence for its upcoming, franchise-altering run.
In seven seasons with the Astros, Springer amassed an .852 OPS and hit 174 home runs. He played the outfield with reckless abandon, often putting his body into harm’s way with little regard for the next day. He was elected an All-Star in three straight seasons from 2017 to 2019. He received American League MVP votes in 2017, 2019 and 2020.
The Astros reached the American League Championship Series in all three seasons. They secured two pennants, often riding Springer’s heroics. He slugged .546, hit 19 home runs and amassed an .895 OPS in 292 postseason plate appearances — success few can match and which the Astros must now try to replace.