The Blue Jays have exercised their 2013 option for left-hander Darren Oliver, the team announced. The club also declined their option for Rajai Davis, but re-signed him to a one-year deal worth $2.5MM.
Oliver, 42, pitched to a 2.06 ERA in 56 2/3 innings this season. He'll earn $3MM next year. The 32-year-old Davis hit .257/.309/.378 with 46 stolen bases this year. His club option was worth $3MM.
Hopefully Oliver doesn’t retire now , he gets better as he ages somehow. Davis is a solid 4th OF , can’t complain on these moves.
If you think the Blue Jays will compete in 2013, then keep Oliver.
Otherwise, trade Oliver.
I doubt he will agree to stay with the Blue Jays beyond 2013.
He’s not going to stay with them because he’s going to retire after 2013…he will be a free agent after next year and already was close to retiring after 2012. He’s definitely worth staying in Toronto all of 2013 if he posts thesame 2012 numbers. Not to mention why would any other club take Oliver in a trade when they know he’s probably going to retire after 2013 anyways? Besides maybe to get to the World Series
Precisely that. Maybe get to the World Series. It is quite common for contenders to take mid-relievers on 1 year deals. In fact, quite often a contender will take on mid-relievers for just half a season (from the trade deadline).
So actually, what I’m suggesting is actually really common…
But go back to my original point, if the Blue Jays are competitive in 2013 then obviously keep him.
But if the Blue Jays aren’t competitive then why have Oliver at all?
Do you even follow baseball transactions?
Jon Heyman
@JonHeymanCBS
“the blue #jays exercised the $3M option for darren oliver. but he
is still said to be leaning toward retiring. “
I don’t get it. Davis had to be paid 500k to be bought out of his option. Then he was signed for 2.5MM. 2.5 + .5 = 3MM?! Why did AA do that?
So that the $2.5M is non-guaranteed, I believe.
Baseball doesn’t have non-guaranteed money in major league contracts unless you count an option year as such a thing.
He can be cut any time up until mid-March and the Blue Jays would only be responsible for 1/6 of his salary. If the team had simply exercised his option, the full amount would have been guaranteed regardless of when he was cut. I think structuring the move in this way gives the team some added flexibility in the event that someone better comes along to fill that roster spot.
It could be for tax purposes (that helps Davis).
In the original plan, Davis was paid $3m throughout the season and that means he pays Canadian tax rates for $3m.
Now Davis pay the American tax rate for $500k and the Canadian rate for the remaining $2.5m.
I’m not an accountant so I’m just guessing.
Or it could be for payroll purposes. If they can shift the $500K to this season, they have that extra $500K in room for next year.
Well there you have it. The Jays big free agent acquisition: Rajai Davis.
Thank you Rogers!
You’re not trying hard enough. You need to throw in a line about the franchise moving.
Don’t forget throwing the word “Medicority” in there as well.
Like fine wine, Darren Oliver gets better with age. Good pickup.
Thinking that Darren Oliver was washed up a few years ago—big mistake. And…he’s left-handed. As for Oliver, if the Jays are out of contention by the trade deadline, he can be rented to a team who has a chance to win it all. I really think of this as a potential audition to the rest of the league as to why he should be a fortification for their bullpen.