The Blue Jays announced that they have agreed to a two-year, $5.9MM contract extension with right-handed reliever Casey Janssen. The deal, which eliminates the need for an arbitration hearing, includes a 2014 option worth $4MM. Janssen will earn $2MM in 2012 and $3.9MM in 2013, MLBTR has learned.
The contract buys out Janssen's final year of arbitration eligibility and his first free agent season. Janssen and agent Jim McDowell had asked for $2.2MM in arbitration, with the Blue Jays countering at $1.8MM.
The 30-year-old posted a 2.26 ERA with 8.6 K/9, 2.3 BB/9 and a 47.3% ground ball rate in 55 2/3 innings last year, when he earned $1.095MM as a second-time arbitration eligible player. Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca first reported that the sides were nearing a two-year deal.
As MLBTR's Extension Tracker shows, Alex Anthopoulos has now completed seven extensions since becoming Toronto's GM.
Nice little move by AA.
Let’s take two arbitrary numbers/players and compare them! Bryce Harper makes $500K. Vernon Wells makes $20 million. Your point is what exactly? BTW, Janssen’s numbers last year DESTROY Aceves’.
AA strikes again!
by signing a reliever to a 2 year deal?
I like AA as much as the next jays fan, but some things are just regular GM duties. Not everything is him ‘striking’ or being a ‘ninja’
lol yep. But still nice to see Jansenn locked up to a decent deal. I think that option buys out a FA year.
Actually the 2nd year in the contract buys out a FA year. The option is buying out another FA year after that.
For sure. Like this deal though.
hey for sure me too, i’ve always liked Janssen.
The relief pitching is a strong point for the Jays, good move. AA just isn’t doing enough to keep up with the big boys, 4th place in the East. The editions of Moore and Pineda really hurt the Jays.
I think AA is doing a fine job. Pineda still has a lot to prove in my eyes and if we had of dealt for him (say for Lawrie) the team would be further behind. The team is still building so another 4th place really doesn’t bother me. 2013 is the season to see things start to come together and see if AA can start pulling the trigger on bigger deals or not.
Jays are the most improved team this offseason in the East,maybe sans Tampa
(Jennings/moore)
We went from our awful bullpen, to a good bullpen. and from davis, rivera, hill, EE
to lawrie, Rasmus, Thames/Snider, Johnson
That doesn’t count. Didn’t happen this offseason.
sure it counts..
AA made 2012 moves at the deadline last year..
Rays adding moore are an improved team, they didn’t add him thiis offseason
Your sarcasm meter is broken.
apparently! lol
no way dude this is just part 1 of a bigger deal
1st step in a trade for felix hernandez.
wait for the other shoe to drop, ninja strikes again
Yep….this is the big setup for getting Jacoby Ellsbury
I’d freaking LOVE that.
always been one of my favourite players.
Good to see Janssen signed. One of our best relievers, year in and out. Easily worth this contract.
(Before you counter 2009, he struggled with injury that year.)
became a janssen lover when he did that accidental cartwheel on the mound.
You knew that when Casy showed up on the winter caravan that he was a Keeper.
Which.. considering that Thames was also on that tour, makes me think that Snider is not long for Jaysville. Sad.
Vernon Wells was on that caravan not too long ago was he not?
Means nothing
Money aside, the Jays were acually a better team with Wells than with Thames and Rasmus. Check the standings. I think Wells will have a better year this year than either Thames or Rasmus, of course it’s all about the money. 2010 Wells was .277, 31HRs, and 88RBI, not going to see that in today’s Jay outfield other than Bautista.
Vernon Wells was brutal last year are you nuts?
This has got to be sarcasm.
Completely agree. Vernon had a tough year but he should bounce back. If we could have the Angels take a huge chunk of salary (like they did to unload Gary Mathews Jr. a couple years back) I’d put in LF in a second.
Wells numbers were barely better then Thames and Wells is on the downside of his career. Why would you throw away Thames and Snider for a guy like Wells who has very limited upside at this point?
In 2010 Colby Rasmus had a slash of .276/.361/.498 with 28 doubles and 23 homeruns.
Hell, Thames posted similar numbers to Wells’ career numbers last season and he might still improve.
This deal is only worth it if Janssen busts out those Styrofoam binoculars again and steals some signs…