Let’s check in on the latest regarding the Blue Jays, all coming via Sportsnet …
- President Mark Shapiro covered a variety of matters in a recent chat with the Writers Bloc show (audio link). Of particular interest was his discussion of the team’s potential young extension targets. Shapiro obviously wasn’t willing to address specifics, but did indicate that the team is inclined to reach deals where possible. On the possibility of extensions, he said fans can “assume we’ve explored it or are exploring it with every one of our young players that we have a strong belief are going to be good players and here for a long time.” Actually getting a deal done is obviously a different story; there, Shapiro spoke of negotiations as “sharing risk” for the future.
- Most of the team’s top potential extension targets have little MLB service time, so they’re in the class of players that have no effective control over their salaries. As Shi Davidi of Sportsnet reports, the Jays were able to get agreement on 2020 earnings with all of their pre-arbitration players, rather than being forced to renew certain players who weren’t pleased with what was offered. (Contract renewals are a symbolic gesture but can impact a team’s relationship with a player. We discussed this in a recent MLBTR YouTube video.) While there has been some grumbling around the game, the Jays seem to have earned plaudits for enunciating and sharing a complete list of their salary offers with an explanation for the formula utilized in reaching them. You can find all of the specific Jays salaries in the above link. Budding stars Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, and Cavan Biggio each landed in the $570K to $580k range. The MLB minimum for the coming season is $563,500.
- Newly inked righty Shun Yamaguchi isn’t making things easy on his new club — in a good way. As Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith writes, the former Japanese star has worked through some difficulties to turn in a strong recent outing. As we explored recently, he’s one of many conceivable candidates for the fifth starter job. Nicholson-Smith writes that Trent Thornton remains the front-runner, but the Jays will surely be glad to maintain some competition and feel good about the status of their depth. Yamaguchi, 32, will slide into the pen if he doesn’t crack the rotation.
The difference is that many of the Jays young stars had fathers who were MLB superstars. Money already runs in the family so they may not feel the need to capitalize early while risking larger future payouts.
Lmao
just like how Robert’s bonus set him for life so he didnt need to sign an extension?
So you’re comparing Luis Robert, a Cuban defector who left Cuba as a teenager less than four years ago and just made genuine money for the first time less than three years ago, to some ball players whose fathers each made over $40M playing ball over their childhood? One of these guys never had anything until his twenties, three of these guys were never going to starve ever. There are legitimate reasons for people to see money in a different way.
Agree
Stupid comment
How do? Do explain
*so
The three young Jays’ fathers earned $42-126M each while playing ball, and these kids are baseball lifers. Even if they don’t play ball for a living, they will have something to do with it. Their minor league track record and last names alone will buy them legitimate time(half their team control) to become established. Their careers are set and they’ve never been close to broke, which gives them the ability to maximize their salaries when compared to others who need the guaranteed money for security. Acuna doesn’t sign away free agent years for guaranteed money if his father made $40M playing ball…
drrw ford:That’s an EXCELLENT point. None of those guys grew up with holes in their shoes. And it’s said Biggio, e.g. knew what to do with his money.
Any young player who signs a long-term deal at this point is making a error, IMHO. The landscape is about to change; arbitration, free agency all subject to revision with the new CBA……Some of these guys are giving away potentially more valuable assets…..
I can tell you from experience that nurturing parents don’t give you anything. They laugh as you stumble!
Uh, your experience might not be indicative of everyone else’s.
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Yamaguchi ain’t going to make it.
What are you talking about? PajamaGucci is a great sleeper pick this year as the guy most likely to be found snoozing in the bullpen under the hot sun.
Troll
GoYanks has a;point. Guchi isn’t going to be in the rotation much. He’ll get clobbered as a starter.
However,I believe he can be an elite releiver, a great setup guy.
Yamaguchi must be doing something right off the field because on the field Thornton should already have the 5th spot wrapped up. Unless they are both in the rotation, and I don’t see that happening.
The guy at the top with the point about the players’ fathers may be onto something. Less urgency to lock in a massive deal.
Jays will run the division this decade.