The Blue Jays have announced that they’ve exercised righty Jason Grilli’s 2017 option. (SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo was first to tweet the news.) That means they’ll pay Grilli a $3MM salary for next season, rather than a $250K buyout.
Jays GM Ross Atkins recently described exercising Grilli’s option as “as near to a no-brainer” as there exists in baseball, so the team’s decision comes as no surprise. Grilli turns 40 this week, but he was very effective with Toronto in 2016, posting a 3.64 ERA with 4.1 BB/9 and an outstanding 12.4 K/9 over 42 innings following a trade from Atlanta. His option was part of a two-year, $7MM deal he signed with the Braves following the 2014 season.
Grilli, the fourth overall pick in the 1997 draft, struggled for his first several seasons in the big leagues, but he emerged as a quality late-inning reliever and then a closer with the Pirates several years ago. In addition to the Bucs, Braves, and Blue Jays, he’s played for the Marlins, White Sox, Tigers, Rockies, Rangers and Angels over the course of a 14-year career in the Majors.
A Grilli in here, a Grilli in there.
Easy decision. Jays have had some great luck with these late-30’s relievers in recent years with Grilli, LaTroy Hawkins, Joaquin Benoit and Darren Oliver. I’m hoping the trend continues and they add another vet for cheap($3-7 million).
Jim Johnson could be available.
Former Royals CL Holland is very much of my interest !!!!!
I think that if we land A healthy Holland and we bring Cecil back; The Jays might be poise to have a good starting 5 next yr and a much better back end in:
Biagini MR
Grilli SU
Cecil SU
Holland SU
Osuna (CL)
That would be a great back end !!!!
I agree. I hope they take a shot with a heavily incentive 2yr deal. with lots of late inning options available this off season the Jay’s could have a good shot at grabbing him
I agree. I hope they take a shot with a heavily incentive 2yr deal. with lots of late inning options available this off season the Jay’s could have a good shot at grabbing him.
I would imagine Holland would be more interested in having a chance at a closing gig. And with as many as 8 teams looking for a closer, he could be in line to find a closer gig with a good contract.
A good option for the Jay’s. hopefully they will have a few better late innings options in 2017 as I think Grilli’s innings should be used conservatively. I wouldn’t want a 40 yr old wearing out in Sept