The Blue Jays announced the signing of free agent reliever Tyler Rogers to a three-year contract. It’s reportedly a $37MM guarantee for the Frontline Athlete Management client. Rogers receives a $5MM signing bonus and a $7MM salary for the 2026 season. He’ll make $12MM annually between 2027-28 and is guaranteed a $1MM buyout on a $9MM club option for 2029. The option vests at a $12MM salary if Rogers makes 60 appearances in ’28 or combines for 110 games between 2027-28 (assuming he passes a postseason physical). Lefty Justin Bruihl has been designated for assignment as the corresponding move.
Rogers, who’ll celebrate his 35th birthday next week, secures a sizable payday to pitch at the back of the Toronto bullpen. One of the sport’s most distinctive pitchers, Rogers is a soft-tossing submariner who bided his time awaiting an MLB opportunity. He was a 10th-round pick by the Giants in 2013 who signed for $7,500 after his senior season at Austin Peay State University. Rogers spent the next six years in the minor leagues, performing well all the way up through Triple-A but without the raw stuff to get the attention of the big league club.
It wasn’t until the end of Rogers’ third full season in Triple-A that he received an MLB look. He was nearing his 29th birthday and close to calling it quits to pursue a career as a firefighter (as Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area covered in 2020). The Giants finally gave him an opportunity at the end of the ’19 season. Rogers tossed 17 2/3 innings of three-run ball to hold his roster spot. He broke camp the following year and has never gone back down to the minors — not even on a rehab stint.
Rogers has played six-plus seasons in the big leagues without going on the injured list. While there’s obviously some luck involved in avoiding any fluke injuries, it’s clear that his underhand delivery puts less stress on his arm. Rogers has made 403 appearances since the start of the 2020 season. That’s 30 more than any other pitcher. Most of those outings have come in high-leverage situations, as his arm angle continues to flummox hitters.
After posting a 4.50 earned run average as a rookie, Rogers has turned in a 3.04 mark or better in four of the past five seasons. He ranks near the bottom of the league in whiffs and has never posted a league average strikeout rate. That’s to be expected for a pitcher who throws an 82-83 MPH sinker and a sweeping breaking ball that clocks in around 74 MPH. It’s a profile designed for weak, ground-ball contact. Rogers gets that year after year, and he almost never puts batters on via base on balls.
While some pitchers with extremely low arm slots can struggle with opposite-handed batters, that hasn’t been an issue for Rogers. He has held lefties to a .235/.289/.336 line in 776 career plate appearances. Right-handed hitters haven’t fared much better, turning in .246/.282/.350 mark in nearly 1000 trips to the plate.
Rogers has spent the bulk of his career in San Francisco, including a two-year stretch where he overlapped with twin brother Taylor Rogers. The Giants fell out of contention shortly before the trade deadline and flipped the impending free agent to the Mets for middle reliever José Buttó and prospects Blade Tidwell and Drew Gilbert. Rogers continued churning out results in his new home, pitching 27 1/3 innings of 2.30 ERA ball. He finished the season with a career-best 1.98 earned run average behind a 62.1% grounder rate while leading MLB with 81 appearances.
The Mets unsurprisingly wanted Rogers back, but they balked at what turned out to be a surprisingly lucrative contract. He more than doubled MLBTR’s prediction of a two-year, $18MM deal. New York has also seen Edwin Díaz, Gregory Soto and Ryan Helsley sign elsewhere. They’ve added Devin Williams to close but will need to find multiple setup arms from the right side.
That’s the role Rogers should continue to fill with the Jays. Toronto was open to supplanting Jeff Hoffman in the ninth inning, but they didn’t come away with any of Díaz, Raisel Iglesias or Robert Suarez. Rogers had a brief run as San Francisco’s closer in 2021 but has otherwise been a setup man. He was fourth in MLB with 32 holds this past season and handily leads the majors in that category over the last six years. Rogers joins Louis Varland as the top leverage arms in front of Hoffman.
The Jays could still look to add a better left-hander than Brendon Little, but Rogers becomes the fifth member of their projected bullpen who cannot be optioned to the minor leagues. Hoffman, Yimi García and Eric Lauer all have the five-plus years of service time to refuse any minor league assignment. Tommy Nance is out of options. Varland can be optioned but certainly isn’t in jeopardy of being sent down. If the Jays have all six starters healthy going into the season, that’d leave only one spot for Little or another left-handed acquisition. That’s to say nothing of Rule 5 picks Angel Bastardo and Spencer Miles — both of whom have an uphill battle to stick on the roster.
Those are secondary considerations for an all-in Toronto team. The $12.333MM average annual value pushes their estimated luxury tax number to $294MM, as calculated by RosterResource. That’s already easily a franchise high before considering the possibility that they add Kyle Tucker or bring back Bo Bichette.
That’ll be their second straight season paying the competitive balance tax. They’re hit with a 42% tax on spending between $264MM and $284MM and taxed at a 75% rate from $284MM to $304MM. Any spending above the final threshold comes with a 90% penalty. The Rogers deal will come with an approximate $8-9MM tax bill. It also firmly pushes them beyond the $284MM mark at which their top pick in the 2027 draft is moved back by 10 spots (though that was basically inevitable after the Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce signings).
It’s a significant investment in a 35-year-old reliever. The Braves also went to three years, at $15MM annually, to sign Suarez on Thursday. That was the first three-year contract for a reliever that age since 2020. There hadn’t been a three-year term at more than $10MM per season for a 35-year-old bullpen arm since Mariano Rivera almost two decades ago. A closer who sits around 99 MPH, Suarez breaking that precedent wasn’t as surprising. The Jays are betting on Rogers’ unconventional style to age equally well.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic was first on the three-year, $37MM deal and the vesting option specifics. Jon Heyman of The New York Post reported the salary breakdown and the $9MM club option.
Image courtesy of Kyle Ross, Imagn Images.
Here come the jays…!!
They got a submariner in their hunt for Blue October.
Top 100 fo shiz
Blue December or Red October?
Aren’t they already blue from October?
That’s a good one.
Outstanding comment
Very high price. Tyler capitalized on the fast market for relievers this year.
$300 million payroll?
Mets lose again
A lot of money is being paid to free agents this off-season. Much more than I expected…
Hopefully, more folks, instead of complaining, can begin to accept that these are the current economic realities of baseball contracts.
Just a few teams though
Rogers is worth the money if anyone is. Blue Jays are making all the right moves.
I disagree. A bunch of over pay panic moves. On their way down the standings.
Please explain your logic in this specific instance. Why do you think this is an overpriced panic move?
Panic? No. This is just how the market moves. One big signing and a snowball effect happens. Rogers is the beneficiary here. Pretty good pull for a 35 year old middle reliever.
He’s been pretty good and I’d rather have him than some of the others that cost more or equal
dewey- A lot of money is being thrown at 35 year old relievers anyway. I just hope the Cubs can get Keller to take money like that or close anyway to come back. If I was gonna gamble on a guy I think I’d like him to be younger at least. I guess we’ll see what happens. Jays obviously miffed about that game 7. LOL
Lol They live in ur head
Not just the Mets. A lot of teams could use him.
Bummer, was hoping he’d reunite with SF.
@onbase_plus_hugging
??? Aaron Bummer has never played for the Giants.
*throws tomato
Good for the Jays! I’m jealous of a Front Office that knows what it wants and goes out and gets it. Congrats
Sad- I really hope the Sox pick up a solid reliever or two. Seems like they are going fast.
Uncle – i wouldn’t be shocked to see Tolle as a high leverage lefty for a year while working on secondaries.
A friend very much of the financial persuasion tells me he expects the Blue Jays might renegotiate some existing contracts to make them longer for less money to help the team’s tax hit. I’ll leave that here not knowing how realistic it is. But if he has a kernel of a clue, will that mean other FA signings (e.g. Tucker, Bichette) might have “interesting” contract structures to reduce immediate cost (we could call that the Dodgers effect)?
@pingston Hi, Vlad, would you be willing to come in and talk about how you can give one of Canada’s largest corporations $50 million to save us some money?
Offering stock options as a sweetener makes some sense, but reducing any player’s overall pay makes no sense on either side of transaction. Fact is they have salary room in a couple years they don’t have now… but can they access it with options, opt outs, opt ins, etc.?.
Teams are not allowed to compensate players with an ownership stake which is essentially what stocks are.
Players Union also does not allow restructuring contracts for less $, ARod was denied this once.
I’m jealous of a front office with a nine figure payroll.
Giants blew this one.
Orangenblack:I highly doubt any team was going to offer that contract including the Giants. It’s a lot of money for a non-closer. As much as Rogers did with the Giants, I’m glad they passed on this contract. Wish him the best.
He is worth this contract. Seems like one of the most underrated pitchers in baseball. An out is an out, no matter the velocity. Bringing him back to SF would’ve been one of the best things we could have accomplished this off season. Wishing him well in Toronto.
In other news, Mets suck.
@depletion
You still have the Jets.
Thanks for the update. Draft Busts for $400, Alex.
I bet you commented this same thing about the Blue Jays last 2 offseasons.
Lotta dough for a 35 year old, but that down under motion should age well.
As Mets fan, I scream out THANK YOU Blue Jays!
Maybe Im not reading you right but what is it you don’t like about Rogers?
Because you don’t to win? I guess then you’re having the best offseason!
You’re telling me
Seems hes getting better with age
imagine how good he’ll be when he’s 50!
No injury history, only needs to throw low-80s, consistent career, no sign of decline as he’s coming off his best season… looks like the safest bet a 35 year old can be. Decent chance he pitches into his 40s.
Now sign Taylor for the set (but on a smaller contract).
Blue Jays strike again!
Finally earns more than his bro!
His brother, a former all-star, still has more career earnings, with over $50 million, this contract will take Tyler to slightly under that.
Although Taylor will be signing a contract too shortly, adding to his “lead.”
Maybe Rogers Comm. can sign both Rogers twins and keep the money in the Rogers “family”.
LOL Stearns
Looks like yet another bullpen from spare parts, deadline trades, and castoffs, because that worked so well in 2025.
I can’t wait to hear that Stearns low balled him.
Wow, Mets are just sitting on their hands.
Stearns is a self-absorbed, self infatuated disgrace that shows nobody any respect and made this a toxic place for players to want to be, so nobody’s coming here especially not for bargain rates. This is what Stearns gets. He’s a disgrace to the Mets. Pete looked so happy today to be free from this toxic environment. And believe me I wish I didn’t say this because I love the Mets and nobody suffers for how pathetic the Mets are more than Mets fans. The thing that finally broke me is this arrogant little man disrespecting people that we like 1000 times more than him and Steve Cohen.
100% truth
Blow hard
That’s a whole lot of nonsense but you clearly have a fixation on the man.
I admit to you that I do at this moment. The truth is that I’m actually surprised how much losing Pete Alonso hurts me. Picture yourself being Pete, coming to the park every day, embracing the fans, playing 162 games a year, having fun while doing it, actually trying to represent the Mets well and with honor, and and come to the realization that the people that run the team couldn’t care less about you at all and honor nothing that you did whatsoever. All of this while the fans have been embracing you with the same ferver that they did Wright, Reyes, Piazza, deGrom, Syndergaard, etc, etc. and all the great guys before him. There’s a serious disconnect between the owners and the fans right now. That’s all I can say. I’m just gonna keep going until I get it out of my system.
Believe me, I’m aware that maybe Pete would’ve left anyway, you don’t hire Scott Boras because you’re giving a hometown discount, I understand that. But it’s just that the Mets didn’t recognize how much this player means to us and didn’t try. There have been other heartbreaks in the past that really hurt, but that I accepted, like John Olerud leaving after ‘99. That totally broke my heart, but I understand that he wanted to go home to Seattle so it is what it is. Even the Wilpons, they drove everyone crazy but at the end of the day they couldn’t spend the money because they got had and they had no money left. There’s no excuse for this. There’s just not.
The fact that we once again have to look back on a great player’s career and feel shame over how they were treated by the organization just like they have every single one of them from Tom Sever until now. It really is pathetic. And I am so utterly sick of it. Mets fans are being deprived of five peak years of yet another guy that we love, and they don’t. And I’m just letting them know, I don’t love them back.
I appreciate your passion, but with Alonso and Diaz, the team did not make the playoffs in 2025. Heads were gonna roll. Mets will bring in new stars. Whether the team is better or worse, have to wait and see.
Agreed. I actually think the Mets will sign Tucker, and I say that as a Jays fan who hopes the Jays sign Tucker.
Sandy, I feel for you and this is the type of reaction I’ve been wanting to see from Mets fans. I’m shocked at how little loyalty the fanbase has had to these long time Mets. Cohen only wanted the flex of no one outbidding him on Soto and Stearns has no problem destroying the heart of that team to remake it in his own vision, a vision that so far has not worked in NYC.
Dude as a Yankee fan that’s also a real baseball fan i feel for you guys (real met fans). I understand Pete, diaz, even nimmo were pretty popular players and to place blame on losing on 3 players who actually produced, less nimmo than the other 2 but still. I just don’t get it. I haven’t heard anything but positives as far as these 3 guys go in the clubhouse, so it’s not even off-field issues.
The reason for the losing last season was the BS pitching staff. Not alonso, diaz, nimmo, or even rogers. I thought hefner was treated poorly given what he had to work with. Like which pitcher on that staff truly underperformed? Senga was fantastic til he broke but he’s made of glass, peterson was fantastic then ran out of gas, holmes was fantastic then ran out of gas, canning looked like a great value signing before injury, manaea may unfortunately be the pitcher he was his entire career besides the 2nd half of 24. We all knew the montas signing was lighting money on fire from the moment it happened.
Outside of pulling skubal out of nowhere I’m not sure what salvages this offseason and it’s sad because Met fans deserve better
Fellow Mets fan and these are the exact feelings I have right now. It feels exactly like how Wheeler was treated as he entered free agency under the Wilpons. Wanted to stay, showed promise, liked in the clubhouse and not even offered a contract. With Pete it’s even worse given that he was even that more established as a Mets icon. Regardless of what happens moving forward, it’s quite shameful the way the Stearns has just been callously discarding the players the fans have grown to love so much, and who have been the heart and soul of the team for so long.
@HurricaneSandy: Jesus, some of you people need to touch grass. Imagine getting this worked up about a team’s offseason on December 12th lmao. So many of you people seem absolutely miserable.
It’s not about the off-season. It’s about not bringing back the player that we wanted. Personally, I’m skeptical about replacing Diaz with Devin Williams, but maybe it will work out. I’m not putting anything past the Mets really.
I’m annoyed about another thing that I can’t look back and take pride in. Another guy coming back to Citi Field like Darryl, and us having to make amends and laugh about the fact that they spent a great deal of their career somewhere else when they shouldn’t have. Another guy like Jose Reyes doing Mets pregame shows, and saying “ I never wanted to leave, but they never made me an offer” Another guy like Daniel Murphy coming back to join the SNY booth when he went and got a World Series with someone else instead of helping us get to the next step after he had a legendary postseason and we refused to pay him like $40 million over four years. Ridiculous stuff like this. That’s what I’m sick of.
By the time next season comes around I will have gotten over it sufficiently. But right now nothing’s really going to excite me maybe outside of Skubal. I would, however, be excited just to go to the park next year and see the guys that I love take the field. They would’ve had my enthusiasm for nothing other than that. Now I’m working from an enthusiasm deficit just like they’re working from a talent deficit.
Is the Alonso thing the last straw for you? Sounds like he’s a favorite of yours and I totally understand that, but I mean, if they traded for Skubal and signed Tucker this winter, would they win you over again? I still think they’ve got a big move or two coming.
That would definitely help sure. I’ll believe it when I see it.
What’s bugging at me is the thought of him returning after his career is over like all the other “Mets legends “ and collectively shaking our heads wondering why we as an organization couldn’t just embrace these people when they were here instead of after the fact. It gets tiresome. I’m tired of looking back on our best players with chronic regret.
Imagine getting on someone’s case for being a fan of the players. Yikes.
I mean I’m not even a mets fan and i get it, diaz and alonso should’ve at least mostly finished their careers in queens and had their numbers on the wall, nimmo was another heart and soul guy and it seems after a horrendously disappointing season they are fixing what wasn’t even broken and it looks worse now.
The Mess will pay for their errors in fan attendance big time lol
It was either Cespedes or Murphy. We chose wrong.
🤡🤡🤡🤡
You Mets fanboys have overtaken the Cubs and Red Sox ones as the biggest whiners here at MLBTR. Every single free agent thread turns into another whinefest. Even fans of other teams are joining you and commenting about feeling bad for you.
The Mets signed one of the greatest players in the game last off-season, and you constantly crap on him and blame him for your team not making the postseason, even though he did everything in his power to try to get you there. Then there’s the constant crying about the excellent relief pitcher you just signed, since most of you are clueless about why he had an off year in 2025 and about which stats are predictive for the coming season and which (ERA) are not. Give it a rest already, people.
Nice whine there……
I didn’t crap on Soto at all but I definitely don’t care about him as much as guys that have been on the team for years and I have actual memories with. It takes time, but we’ll get there. Devin Willams may work out, but in a world of unreliable closers, Diaz gets the job done and we saw it first hand for seven years, so I’m not sure why we’re not allowed to comment on that. Get over yourself.
@Hammerin’ Hank As a Dodgers fan, unlike.
I like Rogers, but, for just 8M more over 3 years they could have had Suarez. 3 years for Roger’s seems high and he is not a closer. Let’s see how things go over the rest of the off season.
We dont know if any player that signs somewhere would take the same contract with the Jays or any team. For example it would probably take more than what a Diaz got to get him not to go to the Dodgers.. Only Atkins knows.
I was thinking the same thing… a few million more and Suarez could’ve come there… but who knows maybe they did have an offer out to Suarez and he choose Atlanta for some reason
I like Rogers a lot better than Suarez. The Jays pitching staff gives up way too many homers. Rogers addresses that. Suarez gets barrelled and doesn’t get swing and miss. Both guys are older but in that case, I take the guy who doesn’t rely on velo for success. At even money, I take Rogers.
Im a Braves fan and I know Rogers is clearly the better pitcher. You shouldn’t think this contract was offered in a vacuum. Rogers is probably the top free agent reliever.
Rogers is nowhere close to being the top free agent reliever.
Not even close, eh? Tell me 3 free agent relievers that are better them him.
Rogers is a better pitcher than Suarez and much more likely to age well.
Give me Suarez.
Hank, given your name, you’re a Braves fan? You got your wish. For the Blue Jays, Suarez doesn’t profile differently than what they already have. Louis Varland is very similar in the part where he throws hard and attacks the zone while giving up more hard contact than you’d like. The Blue Jays have swing and miss in other guys. What they had missing was a guy who stays off barrels. Their biggest weakness is addressed with this move in the way Suarez would have amplified it.
@Kam. I know you didnt say Varland is better but if you prefer him over Suarez I think you are doing to the same as Hank.
I didn’t mean necessarily better, though he is at some things and I’d project him to be better going forward. Just similar in profile and therefore usage. Throws hard and attacks the strike zone while not having bat missing fastball shape. Both get hit too hard. Rogers does what they didn’t have enough of. Guys who both throws strikes and stay off barrels.
I wouldnt going forward. Suarez peripherals are saying he is just as effective. Last season he even increased his k% higher than the two seasons before 25 and he lowered his walk rate. Also, Suarez beats him in track record.
Yeah salary cap. I do think Suarez had a slight edge looking backwards. 3.66 xERA to Varland’s 3.95. Slightly better K rate for Suarez, but much better whiff rates for Varland. Contact quality favours Varland only slightly and isn’t very good for either. Though while both get hit hard, Varland is on the ground and Suarez in the air. So higher BABIP profile for Varland but higher ISO against profile for Suarez. Similar fastball velo and stuff grades. Slight stuff+ edge to Suarez. For me though, Suarez is 35 and is so fastball dependent whereas Varland is young and has more of a repertoire that can maybe help him hit a new level. I feel like Suarez is what he is and Varland has room to improve. Perhaps more room to collapse too though. He was different between Toronto and Minnesota. Put the best of both worlds together and he’s great. But put the worst of both together and he’s not very good.
I’d prefer Rogers. His style of game should age better, and Suarez did show some decrease in his peripherals. I think it really has more to do with what type of pitcher the Blue Jays wanted to add to their pen.
Perhaps Suarez wasn’t enamoured with the thought of going through the hour long customs lines….and being paid in CTC money
😜
Blue Jays’ players are paid in US dollars.
Like (but they get paid us USD)
CTC money is Canadian Tire money, that is, the money coupons which Canada’s beloved Canadian Tire (no exact doppelganger in US, Cdn Tire is a department store, garage and auto supply store that’s over 100 years old and has locations across Canada) gave out for over 6 decades with each purchase (now electronically tracked, of course, but they still honour the incoming CT money. And every Canadian has it or has used it… And, in humour, references are often made that a deal or money owing will be paid in “Canadian Tire money” see: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Tire_money
And, yes, I believe everyone knows all MLB, NHL and MLS salaries are paid in US currency… and Canada no longer allows moose, caribou and polar bears to roam the runways at Toronto’s airport…
I’ll take the better pitcher over the one who happens to have been pitching the 9th inning every time. And Suarez does not profile as somebody who’s going to age as well.
And if you really want Rogers to close, he did a little bit of that in 2021. He’d be fine, it’d just be a waste to take someone with a rubber arm like that and have him only pitch in save situations (or be wasted in the 9th innings of losses). He’s led the league in appearances 4 of the last 6 seasons, you want to use that flexibly.
Submarine guys are fun, but they rarely hold up long term. Jays are betting big on a gimmick here
That gimmick has held up for 7 straight good to great seasons now…..
Gimmick? Lmao, he’s had 420 innings and his career whip is 1.09. He induces so much weak contact
Agree
Kind of a ridiculous contract
@GOBLUE37
Yep. Kent Tekulve was another submariner. He something to watch back in the day.
Dan Quisenberry, too.
Dan Quisenberry, Ted Abernathy, to mention two more.
A demonstration from Ted Abernathy.
youtube.com/watch?v=wvC59w6oZTI
Tekulve was truly fascinating to watch. Didn’t look like an athlete at all, just some lanky, nerdy guy and yet for awhile it seemed like he was the top closer in baseball.
Tekulve and Quis were better than Rogers. They were top-shelf closers.
Not sure I agree.
Do you think submarine guys rarely hold up long term because hitters eventually figure out the submarine motion itself, or do many adopt that motion as a result of not having better stuff and/or velocity using a more conventional delivery?
@agentx 2.71 ERA since 2021. They haven’t figured him out yet.
Very strong contract for Rogers, the relievers are getting paid!
Five years ago 3/30m for the best setup guys wasn’t outrageous. This seems fairly standard.
Gimmick? Lol
Mets are Metting already!
As a Giants and Blue Jays fan, I endorse this signing. The Giants probably needed him more (I was kinda expecting a reunion), but the Toronto pen also hasn’t been the strongest unit.
That’s fat.
I think you meant to say “That’s a fact”
This doesn’t seem like the end of the Jays’ bullpen additions. For that money, maybe Rogers is the 8th inning guy?
This deal seemed insane at first glance, but while it’s probably an overpay, his numbers and durability prove he’s more than a gimmicky soft tosser. And he doesn’t need velocity so should age just fine.
I mean whats an overpay these days? Chad Green made $10.5M last year.
Didn’t break into the bigs until 29 so, maybe not as taxed
he’s been really good and durable but three years for a reliever in his mid-thirties is surprising.
Your post seems self-contradictory. He got that good contract because he is really good and durable, and he’s been really good and durable for 5 straight years now.
exact same thing could have been said for Dan Quisenberry. many relievers fall apart before age 38. in fact, most do.
So one guy, who was a submariner, did not pitch well beyond age 36, so no similar pitchers will age well either? What about Tekulve, and Abernathy, both of whom were effective at ages 40 and 39?
Quisenberry averaged over 133 IP for 4 years age 29 through 32, but threw 88 IP at age 33, and only 49 IP at 34. So he was showing signs of decline which Rogers hasn’t.
If a guy has been very good and durable for 5 straight years, why would you to assume the same degree of decline as Quisenberry when he wasn’t showing the same durability? Why assume it’ll happen to Rogers when he’s clearly different from Quisenberry?
Because idiots wanna crap on something they don’t understand. Or when it isn’t there team improving. I truly find it funny
more pitchers are ineffective after 35 than are not. that’s just intellectual honesty.
this guy call people idiots of it isn’t “there” team
There’s the spelling police. Another idiotic comment when nothing intellectual to say.
there “is” the spelling police? you’re on a roll tonight, flexing that intellect you mention.
I would also ask why you are too lazy to type one extra letter and say “want to” instead of “wanna”. ?
you missed the sarcasm and irony did you not? See I could have just said didn’t you, but chose to spell it all out for you. Let us see if you can identify the other little nugget I left in there for you…
Because sometimes I like to speak to the masses in colloquialisms. Wanna is a perfectly acceptable term in this case. I hate having to always flex vocabulary might.
So just ignore that Rogers is different from most pitchers, and state some generality. That’s not really being intellectually honest.
you can use the MLB contract tracker as a very useful tool and that shows that since 2013 (when the database went into effect) there had been three contracts at three years for relievers age 35. it is uncommon. uncommon = surprising.
mlbtraderumors.com/contracttracker?name=&team…
I don’t know why you take umbrage at a very rational take. I get that you like the guy but relievers don’t often get three years at this age. therefore I said surprising. Both MLBTR and Fangraphs predicted shorter terms at less money.
“Wanna” definitely acceptable as a colloquialism based on how some pronounce, but “anyways” is never acceptable, it is a grade A indicator of illiteracy…. (the word is “anyway”, adding the “s” makes no sense)
Umbrage? You flatter yourself.
So you didn’t understand my post. Generalities, like you present, are true, but do not apply specifically. Yes, most pitchers will not be effective into their late 30s. But that doesn’t mean every pitcher in their late 30s, will not be effective. Especially one so different.
I only offered an insight into your opinion which was based on a flawed assertion, that Rogers’ career will be typical. As I and others have pointed out, Rogers is atypical in the extreme.
And, in case you didn’t notice, in the comments section of MLBTR, people post opinions and others respond, either agreeing or disagreeing. There was nothing special about my response to you.
saying umbrage is flattering myself? good grief, have a good day man.
Didn’t think I’d have to explain it. I just don’t care that much about you to take umbrage. You might think so, but you just don’t have that big an impact.
Don’t take it so seriously. If it bothers you that much when someone pushes back on your take, maybe don’t post.
I bet your grandkids would get a kick out of seeing the online persona you’ve cultivated.
I’m guessing their going the trade route to get a closer or they Hoffman will have a better year?
“they are”
NOOOOOOOO
Overpay in AAV and term.
He’s so consistent. That’s hard to find.
Here comes jimmer with the scoutseyes lol
Potentially $48mil to a 35 yr old set up guy?
The f is going on with mlb tms handing out absolutely absurd contracts ?
I think the teams are looking at the results and not just the age. This is especially true in this signing. He’s a low velocity, lower stress mechanics,ground ball (weak contact pitcher).
You underrate the value of a good set-up man. A great closer isn’t much good if the set-up guy blows it in the 8th.
His MLB innings count started at 29, too.
Blue Jays are ruining baseball!!! /s
I feel the same way about Anthony Volpe
🙂
Please expand….
“It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood…”
– Mr Rogers
Old and doesn’t throw hard. Arm gimmick for 3 years a bad deal
It’s an effective arm gimmick that’s been working for years. And he’s less likely to go on the injured list.
C’mon why do you have to use facts to detract from other people’s illogical conclusions?
Prospectnvstr,
I apologize. Let me try this again.
OMG with an arm angle like that he might hit the ground and injure his knuckles!! Then he wouldn’t be able to spin the ball and he’ll get hammered.
And at his age, bending down like that he’s likely to slip a disc! Then what? Rehab? Surgery? How many pitchers come back from disc replacement? He might need an entire back replacement!!!
Better?
Alright that’s better. Now that’s starting to sound like a lot of the illogical schmucks who either don’t know or don’t bother doing their research before posting.
What happened to Brad Zeigler after he got paid? The league catches up and he is an older guy. They would have been better off ponying up for Devin Williams and betting on his stuff
They sure would have. Mets got the better reliever.
Yep, effective sarcasm requires sufficient overstatement to remove any suspicion of honest commentary…
Mucho gracias for the ‘’splaination of CTC money for our neighboUrs to the south….
With Chase Lee in the fold, Sidewinder Saturday comes a day early in Toronto this week!
Following Mr. Yesavage….the batters had better adjust quickly to release points….
I never thought about that. Very funny. Could be an MLB record in release point difference. Great addition to the pen. A very alternative yet consistent arm.
Blue Jays making a push for the offseason pennant.
They sign Bo, or one of the other big FA bats, they will have “won” the off-season.
Don’t get trophies for that, though.
Go Jays! Get me another World Series Championship cap!!!
Toronto has entered salary cap hell. They are way over the CBT line of $244M. If they don’t win it all this year, they are going to be going through a fire sale.
Why would they engage in a fire sale? Roger Communications is a media giant. The Jays are doing this because they can afford to.
That, and they got a good long sniff at the postseason and the trophy.
I like that they are going all in at the right time.
And the Blue Jays plan works on multiple levels.
1. they fill the Rogers Centre
2. they sell more refreshments at RC
3. their radio and TV advertising for all Jays appearances in season and pre-season sell at a much higher rate
4. in conclusion, vertical integration still works when a media mogul controls the purse strings (and not a corporate bean counter)
In related news, team President Mark Shapiro signed a new 5-year contract after his first 10 years as Prez rebuilt the Rogers Centre as a one-sport palace (they purchased the iconic Blue Jays nest for only $25 million after they bought the team, and poured $300M into the reno) and recast their Dunedin starter and rehab nest with more big spending. And he re-built their farm system and re-established the kind of team that was a perennial threat from 1995 to 1993 when owned by beer giant Labatt’s (before Labatt’s was scooped up by Belgian brewers who couldn’t even spell baseball).
Labatt’s had a deal to buy the SF Giants in the early 1970s that was blocked by MLB (according to some accounts) and led to Toronto getting its own franchise on the field in 1977. Labatt’s knew what Rogers knows now, Canadians love sports and will support their teams. Indeed, the Blue Jays got their name originally because Labatt’s best-selling brand in the 1970s was Labatt’s Blue…
There is no such thing as cap hell in a sport with no salary cap
People say Steve Cohen is the richest owner in baseball but the Jays are right there with him with Rogers (the company, not Tyler). They’ll be fine.
Not even close. Made a bunch of money this year selling out most games and then playoffs. Also sell more beer per attendee than any other team in the league at a price of $18. Post season in beer alone payed for Rogers plus
If they actually manage to sign Tucker, their CBT level will be the same as the Dodgers. The sad part about that is that they may not even win the AL East
They may not. Or they might.
The Dodgers barely won the NL West last year. No freebies in MLB.
Other than Yesavage (and it’s early days there), this Blue Jays front office team hasn’t had much luck with early round draft picks (more luck in the later rounds). In fact ever since Jeff Hoffman in 2014 the only player they’ve drafted in the first round who did anything useful for any team in their career (before Yesavage) was Alek Manoah. May as well take the draft penalties.
An overpay in a vacuum, it seems. This free agent market is not a vacuum.
I really hoped Rogers would re-sign with the Giants. He was really, really good while we had him. Great setup pitcher. That said, I don’t think other teams would have offered near that much money. He probably jumped to sign that contract. Good for him but Posey wasn’t going to offer anything near the contract the Jays offered. Rogers did what was best for his family. He’ll do a great job for the Jays.
@Ball_Four you realize how much $ their ownership has right?? Lol
The assets of the owners are somewhat irrelevant. The Blue Jays are a very small part of the Rogers Corporation, and like all other MLB teams they are operated as a self sustaining business.
From time to time a wealthy owner group may inject funds but the parent corporation in this case, would expect the Blue Jays to make a profit and live within their means.
So many fans equate the personal or corporate wealth of team owners as the piggy bank for the team, but that is rarely the case. It just shows that many fans have absolutely no idea how a business operates.
In this case, I think you might want to reconsider your own understanding of what Roger’s is doing as a business and what their sports ownership and marketing is about in relation to the larger business context. 1) They own multiple Canadian sports franchises and are building a brand. The Jays are the flagship of this brand and winning is a key component. Turning a profit in the early going isn’t necessarily the point – creating a sustainable and profitable team long term is, which requires winning and top of the line modern facilities, both of which are now key components of the organization 2) the Jays aren’t just a small component of the overall expenditures/revenue of the business, they are a rounding error. Roger’s is the wealthiest ownership in baseball (27B). 3) Roger’s owns the TV side of the business as well. Because of this, we actually have no idea how profitable the Jays are, but we do know this is a huge business advantage as compared to other teams that need to negotiate TV and media contracts with external entities. 4) Blue Jays success invariably has an impact on the Canadian brand they’ve built and how fans and Canadians view Roger’s as an overall business. The Jays brand has an outsized impact on the larger Roger’s brand.
5) While profits are obviously a component (and Roger’s has now seen what happens to profits when they put a winning product on the field), there’s more to it from a business side in this case.
Rogers basically has a monopoly in cell, internet , satellite and tv services across much of Canada. the Jays are the content that fuels their media business. Rogers has the equivalent of YES/NESN for entire Canada – so the Jays fuel their multiple channels.
At least the Giants won’t have to face him on the regular.
That’s probably the strongest endorsement for a Jays’ fan!
He’s funky
Looking forward to watching him all season – super intriguing arm.
With the best relievers off the market the rest will get a little more than we thought. Good on him for this deal.
A bit of an overpay but I guess the price of poker has gone up. Most places had 3/27
Rogers signs Rogers.
Good for him. Never thought he’d break 10 million a year and he gets a 3 year deal.
Since this will be the first Extended look that AL batters will have against him, it would be interesting to see his stats broken out showing how he did against AL teams and NL teams over the course of his career.
Click through on his name. Then Splits, then Career. Since he has only pitched for NL teams, interleague is his AL stat line. Take a look. It’s pretty good so far.
I don’t think which league will matter. As a Giants’ fan, I worried in his early years that division rivals, after seeing him fairly often for a few seasons, would adjust and pick up on what they were seeing. But that never happened. He isn’t immune from bad luck, and some of the weak contact will drop in for a hit occasionally. But the guy is unique and Jays’ fans will love and trust him.
They all play each other every year now, so this isn’t really a factor.
MLB.com reporting dodgers could trade Glasnow. Wonder what it would take for him to come to Baltimore?
I was hoping the Mets would bring him back but not at that contract. Holy overpay.
@Monix Not a lot of relievers have thrown 374 games over the last 5 years with a 149 ERA+ and a 2.71 ERA
Those numbers would be terrific for a closer. Rogers’ 2021-2025 ERA and ERA+ pips Mason Miller’s career numbers.
He is what writers and fans called an AAAA player at 28 years old and he was never going to make it
Shows how much writers and fans know
And the overwhelming majority of AAAA players at 28 never make it. He’s a rare exception.
So uninformed fans and writers should keep their opinions to themselves ?
The overwhelming majority never get a real opportunity. If every Nathan Lukes or Tyler Rogers got a real chance, I think a good third of them would find some success. Would be interesting to see someone run the numbers on as many examples as can be found of someone who dominated AAA at 28+.
If a team has little money for payroll or they keep having under 500 records each year
You would hope they would give players like that more chances
You have to give Jays’ management credit, perceived overpays or not, for not sitting on their hands, for going out and getting preferred choices.
I still think they need a top-tier bat and, having seen their efforts so far, won’t be surprised if two more are brought in.
This is fun! Until it isn’t because …baseball.
Go Jays! Get me another World Series Champion cap!!!
100%. Getting it done. Flush with cash after a deep playoff run. Straight back into the team.
@kodion Really hoping they don’t yield to sentiment and hand Bichette $200m.
A 3-4 win guy (which does Bo the favor of forgetting his 2024 season) who’s the worst MI in the game. He can’t stay on the field and put up a 114 OPS+ for 2023-2025. Already a subpar baserunner at 25 to 27 years of age.
Bat speed in 2025 was in the lowest 12th percentile. Peaked at 41 BB in a season for his career. Already one of the slowest players in the game.
He’s got some very good red ink on his statcast page, but the negatives are serious, including averaging fewer than 120 games / season for 2023-2025, peaking at 139 games in 2025
That’s a contract that can go south in a hurry, and the OPS+ and durability only might work if you move him to 1B before his legs are completely chewed up—but do you really want to pay $200m for a 1B/DH heading into his decline phase?
I’m wondering whether he’s one of the guys who gets signed in February for about 60-70% of the estimates. Not much point in Bo taking a pillow deal—his defense isn’t improving and his legs don’t rate to improve, either. He may as well take as much as he can get this offseason.
Worst MI in the game isn’t accurate. The small sample as a second basemen we saw in the WS suggests he’ll be at least average there and that was playing injured.
Bat speed is not a relevant stat. Bat control is how you hit for average and comes at the expense of bat speed.. He’s lead the league in hits twice in the last 5 years and was well on his way again this year before injury.
While I agree with you that he could walk more, I’ll take that offensive profile from my second baseman and I also think he can play third base.
Furthermore, when you’re clearly injured and can still take Shohei deep to dead central in game 7 of the WS, you demonstrate that the moment will never be too big and that no matter what, you’ll compete. He probably earned himself an extra 50M with that performance and Jays ownership can afford it.
Add Pete Fairbanks to Jeff Hoffman and Tyler Rogers and you have a World Series caliber duo
Mets are a dumpster fire. Too bad for fans.
@Dodgers2026 One of the problems is how Stearns’ ineptitude beginning with 2025’s ST killed the Mets postseason chances. It wasn’t injuries to the pitching staff that did it when he was fomenting absurdities like leaving McLean in AAA until August 15th, and failing to trade for a starter at the deadline even though competent starters were going for less than what Stearns was paying for relievers who bombed with the Mets, or that Helsley’s decline in 2025 was already evident before he left St. Louis.
Fans don’t credit him last offseason with bringing in Soto or bringing back Alonso for 2025, leaving him with taking the blame for Montas, Manaea et al. He’s already lost all the goodwill the Mets 2024 season produced.
If you’re playing ‘smartest man in the room’ you can’t make consistently dumb moves and hope to thrive.
Stearns also doesn’t have the temperament to be the face of a big market franchise. He doesn’t grasp that one of a POBO’s main functions is to involve fans with the team as much as he can, telling them as much as he can about the team’s direction and intentions without giving away important or proprietary information.
Instead Stearns tells fans the least he possibly can, as if the entire enterprise involved building nuclear defense systems. It’s both frustrating and ridiculous to most, and it leaves him sounding like a third-rate public relations department buffoon when he inevitably reaches for one of his empty stock phrases during pressers.
It didn’t help that Stearns’ 2024 and 2025 Deadlines were among the worst in the game, and that he refuses to sign high end arms while paying Montas and Manaea a combined $42m a year in both 2025 and 2026.
Mixed with the kid they picked up from the Tigers, they’re basically setting up to ensure no one has a chance against their line up after Yesavage spends 5 innings straight over the top
Another one gone as the Cubs twiddle their thumbs with their collective heads up their bums. Too cheap to get anyone of any great competence. Pathetic penny pinchers who are gonna let the BlueJays and Os sign the whole lot it seems. Always rumored for everyone but not enough guts to offer anyone anything other than lowball dollars. With Tucker walking I would have thought the much rumored pitching overhaul would surely have come to fruition. So much for rumors. The Dodgers and Jay’s of the world are serious about winning. Not much so on the north side of Chicago.
Contracts like this make me feel better about the Harry Ford trade.
That’s a ridiculously overpaid- good luck with that
The Mets theme song should be “Another one bites the dust” by Queen (They play in Queens, how ironic).
@AGS ya its really going to handcuff jays ownership lol pennies.
Brutal for Giants fans. We will miss him but I’m happy he’s getting paid. One of the most underrated players imo.
So close to my estimate that a few people ridiculed me for, more in fact.
Really good signing. Just is.
Tyler is better than some of the Jays options last year.
There could be a marketing opportunity as well.
How many of you all said Rogers in this article alone 🤣🤣🤣
Sounds like an interesting pitcher, look forward to seeing what he can do in Toronto.
Leaving the Red Sox and Yankees in the dust early
Congrats Tyler on the payday we love you in the Bay Area and they seem to treat transplants great with Gausman etc. best of luck loved you as a giant!!
Nice work, Tyler. Giant boys getting paid. Good on them.
his brother is also a free agent. They should sign his twin brother that would be hilarious.
solid sign for the Jays. I hate it, was hoping the best of the other AL East birds.
he’s so hard to square up on.
Is Tyler the good twin or the bad one? Hard to keep track
I’m a San Francisco resident (transplant Reds fan).
Many, many, many Giants fans were deeply confident that Posey would bring Rogers back. That call started right after the trade last Summer (“we got players and we’ll resign Rogers!”)…
Going to be some minor quakes among Giants fans on the message boards…
I’m doubting you miss the weather
Jays got a good one
Do these signings signal a Bichette resigning? The Blue Jays are overpaying for, but signing, players that they need to try to roll it back. How do they do that with his bat missing all season?
I still think Bichette will return to Toronto.
Hoping not. If Willy Adames was available as a FA he’s the kind of guy the Jays can use, and despite being a year older as of last offseason he’s both better and he signed for less than the current estimates for Bichette.
Bo for anything close to $200m makes very little sense.
False
My crystal ball says that Rogers 4th year option will vest. He’s a machine.
Reds fan here, it’s been tough for a while
@astrosfan
Do some research. Learn a little about how rogers operates, and then talk as if you have a clue lol
Not too surprised he got pad this much. He seemed to be wanted by both the Mets and the giants (at least giant fans).
Little surprised by the length mainly the possibility of a 4th year.
I watch this dude pitch and think he should be ripped but he hardly ever is. Having a different look pitching style wise is a good thing. If you roll out reliever after reliever who throw 96-100 with a similar arm slot, similar slider. Eventually the other team is going to adjust.
This dude gives you a completely different look. One nobody practices for. The results speak for themselves and as he proved last year it even plays in the biggest of markets.
Some are like is it going to hold up. Well you can say that about every reliever. Look at Tanner Scott last year. Guy was great with the marlins and Padres and fell apart with the dodgers.
This is a signing worth the risk if you can afford it. Which clearly the Jays can.
With that said I am still surprised they didn’t sign another closer. Perhaps they will trade for one. I really don’t see any closers left on the market better than what they already have at this point.
Fairbanks and Weaver are likely gonna be up next. Both should get a pretty good deal as well. Lots of teams have been in on Fairbanks.
You’re bang on with the different look especially when he follows 7 strong from Yesavage where everything looks like it’s coming straight down.
Another 2025 Met out the door. David Stearns had better find some pixie dust soon to fill the holes on his roster.
I could live with Baty at 3B and Vientos at 1B but they need two outfielders and, at minimum, two or three bullpen pieces.
Not as worried about the rotation as much as others. Believe they should keep Senga and give the young SP prospects a long leash in the rotation.
@Backup Catcher Agree on Baty, a 2-3 WAR 3Bman (2.3 fWAR, 3.1 rWAR) in 3/4 of the 2025 season, who can handle 2B for $1m are nice players to have–but the Mets will do well to spell him against LHPing. .
But Vientos, especially in the field? Replacement level in 2025, and his 2024 had an xOBP of .300 and an xSLG of .463 (.actual of .322 and .516) with a .324 BABIP that’s way out of line vs his speed and hitting style.
Add in his miserable defense and there are too many ways for him to fail for playing him at 1B to be a good bet. Watching him at 3B is already painful. Vientos trying to handle the add’l responsibilities at 1B rate to make for an excruciating year if that’s a full-time gig.
Polanco will be a significantly better fielding 1Bman than Vientos, making DH Mark’s likely spot if the Mets keep him, but since the player most directly affected by the Polanco signing is Vientos it suggests they’re moving on from him.
Vientos didn’t have very nice things to say about the Mets while he was struggling. Called them out as “they didn’t care”.
Should find some other scenery. Something very interesting was told to me that makes the offseason so far…coaches and players, make more sense.
The repeated comment above is that Rogers is “not a closer”. He’s never been given the chance! Some numbers for you from Ratio Pitching to compare Rogers to Dan Quisenberry. (Yeah, I might make people mad.)
Rogers ratios: 1.6% HR, 4.4% BB, 17.6% SO
MLB averages during his career: 3.2% HR, 8,5% BB, 22.7% SO
Quiz ratios: 1.4% HR, 3.8% BB, 8.9% SO
MLB averages for Quiz: 2.1% HR, 8.5% BB, 14.0% SO
Oh, and ERA+: Rogers – 148, Quiz – 146. Also, leverage: Rogers 1.40, Quiz 1.59.
Don’t get me wrong. I *love* Dan Quisenberry and think sidearm/submarine pitchers are great options to have. The only thing keeping Rogers from 30+ saves a year is opportunity.
Relievers aren’t closers until they are. Most relievers don’t start out as closers. I think it may be a 1 and 1A closer thing with Hoffman depending on the situation.
4 times leading in games appeared by pitcher. Impressive. Enjoyed seeing him play on same team as his brother.
Giant and Met fans should be pleased their management did not sign this overpriced deal. In that way ownership will pass the savings onto the fans in the form of lower ticket prices, cheaper dogs and beer. Meanwhile, Jay fan will scrape by as they watch their team compete for a championship. Pity the Jay fan
I was ready to disagree when I read your first sentence, but as I read on realized I’d be embarrassed if I did, having missed the sarcasm. Good work.
Jays fan here…. Will enjoy the scraping.
Everything you just said is quite literally the opposite of the truth.
Where did you get the notion that guys that throw sidearm are more prone to injury? Did you not read the article” To quote:
“…it’s clear that his underhand delivery puts less stress on his arm.”,
which is just the opposite of what you wrote. Also other submarine throwing pitchers like Kent Tekulve, and Ted Abernathy were effective in their late 30s, early 40s.
And they traded for Chase Lee. Could be a very interesting bullpen that can drive hitters mad.