It's official: George Springer signs with the Jays
The deal is for six-years and $150 million, significantly front-loaded
With a spot on the 40-man cleared by Friday’s trade of Héctor Pérez to the Cincinnati Reds (for cash or a player to be named later), the Jays were finally able to officially announce the signing that we’ve all known about since Tuesday night. The club’s new centre fielder, George Springer, has officially agreed to a six-year, $150 million deal to join the club.
It is the largest contract, free agent or otherwise, that the Blue Jays have ever signed, topping the seven-year, $126 million extension the club gave Vernon Wells in December 2006.
Over the last five seasons, Springer has been the fifth best outfielder in baseball by fWAR, and that's only if you count Kris Bryant as an outfielder, as FanGraphs' leaderboards do. That puts him immediately ahead of Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper, Charlie Blackmon, and Cody Bellinger. Granted, he’s older than three of those guys, and at 31 is a bit of a risk on a deal that’s as long as the one the Jays have signed him to, but that’s simply the cost of doing business. Elite players don’t come around very often, and Springer is certainly that. He’s been an incredibly consistent performer producing wRC+ marks of 129, 133, 126, 140, 119, 157, and 146 across his seven big league seasons respectively.
To make matters even better, the Blue Jays have structured the contract so that 40% of the money will be paid out over its first two years. Shi Davidi of Sportsnet had the breakdown:
I don’t think anybody needs to be thinking about the Jays having to trade him away or eat salary in the later years of the deal — 31 is not that old, even in MLB terms — but the $22.5 million figures over the final four years of the deal are very palatable indeed (and the limited no-trade clause will make it easier to move him if they really do for some reason want to). The Jays remain well-positioned to hand out some big extensions to their young core down the line. The $150 million figure for Springer is scary in the abstract, but even with it on the books, the Jays’ salary projection for 2021 at Cot’s will only rise to about $116 million, while their commitments for 2022 sit at just $63.3 million (though several players, including Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Cavan Biggio, will reach arbitration for the first time next winter — assuming, in their cases, that Super Two status remains a thing in the next CBA).
For context, the Jays' projected payroll sits about where it did on opening day of 2019, when it was at $114.5 million. But you'd have to go all the way back to 2012 before you reach another year where they weren't spending even more than they are now.
Precisely how much more cash they will be able to splash this winter remains a mystery. However, if we think there was truth at some point to the erroneous reports this week about the club signing Michael Brantley, it seems safe to believe more is there to be spent. If they can go as high as the $160 million range, which is where payroll was at in 2017 and 2018, then they could genuinely solidify themselves as playoff contenders for at least the next couple of years, and probably for years to come.
Even if they can “only” push the payroll by another $20 million or so -- taking them to around the level they were at in 2014, 2015, and 2016 -- they could do some real damage on this market, with so few other teams willing to part with their billionaire owners’ precious dollars.
As was the case with the addition of Hyun Jin Ryu last winter, by adding Springer the Jays have ensured that this off-season was a big win for the franchise. The only question now is how much bigger they can make it. And with holes remaining in the rotation, in the infield, and in the bullpen, there’s no sense in stopping now.
Top image via Twitter/@BlueJays
Love the structure of this deal. Love even more what it signifies: we are rebuilding no longer. We are in full-on contention mode!! Fucking bring it!!
HOT