4:00 PM Eastern
The Blue Jays had a nice little surprise for us waiting at Rogers Centre ahead of the home opener. We knew that Alex Rios would sign his deal today, though we thought it was for $65 million plus an option, turns out it’s $64 million. Maybe that was why we had to wait a week and a half for the announcement.
So I walk into Rogers Centre, and Rios comes into the elevator lobby right behind me with his beautiful fiancee. I said “Congratulations on the thing we can’t talk about for another 15 minutes,” and he just had a huge smile on his face. He was starving, so he took the stairs (I don’t know what one thing has to do with the other, but that’s what he said) and I hopped onto the elevator. When I got up to the third floor, I headed to the broadcast booth and as I turned the corner, there was Aaron Hill in a finely-tailored suit. Surprise, surprise!
I looked at Aaron and said, “Do I have to congratulate you, too?” and he answered, “I was told to be here at 3 o’clock for Mr. Rios” with a smile on his face that, in a family publication, could best be described as akin to the cat that ate the canary.
Hill’s deal is a very interesting one. He’s signed up for four years, through arbitration, for $12 million. The Jays then have the choice to exercise a one ($8 million), two ($16 million) or three ($26 million) year option, or to walk away.
Hill probably leaves a bit of money on the table here, assuming he stays healthy and continues to develop the way he has the last three years. He was going to make close to the minimum this year, then would probably get about $1.8 next year, maybe $4.2 or so in 2010 and then, if all goes well, maybe $7 or $8 million in 2011 before free agency. So he stood to make about $14 million over the next four years had everything gone very well. Now, he’s protected, and will only make $2 million or so less. As Hill said afterwards, he could have waited on gone year-to-year, but “how greedy can you be?”
Compare the deal to Ian Kinsler’s 5-year, $21 million deal with Texas – Hill will make $20 million over the next five years, and has those other two years and $18 million waiting for him.
OK, that’s it for me until post-game. Gotta go downstairs and work.
17 Responses to “Surprise, surprise!”
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Even in an adult publication I would have used the expression, “cat that ate the canary.” It just would have had subtext.
- TorgenEven though it’s gonna be a long time before Roy Halladay gets to free agency, do you think he can be part of the core beyond 2010 with rios,hill, and wells locked up?
MW: Yep.
- andrewWhat is the total amount of money Hill will make if all his three options are exercised?
- daveCan you break rios and hill’s deal year by year once you recieved the salary figures?
MW; Yeah, but I don’t have it yet, and that info will be available from lots of other sources before I have the time to post it.
- julianThis is awesome. Halladay, Wells, Rios, Hill are locked into long term deals. They are all young players who form the nucleus of this team. If we can get a few more arms locked in long-term, we’ll be looking pretty good.
You were talking the other night about J.P. potentially making a deal if Scutaro couldn’t go. What about the Thigpen option? Talk last year was that he was such a strong athlete that they were considering finding a spot in the field for him, eventhough the preference was to keep him behind the dish. I’d rather see Thigpen get 20+ games at third then give up a prospect or a pick for a rental like Boone.
Loved one of the comments the other night about picking up Adam Dunn. I’m a huge fan of his and think that he would’ve been worth the couple of extra million over Frank the Tank’s deal. Hopefully the Reds will be out (weren’t they your AL Central pick?) by the deadline and Dunngeon Master will be available.
Not happy that I won’t be at the home for the series this weekend. Jays are hot and cold against Wakefield – I hope the flutter isn’t there tonight and we see the Sox pen early. Marcum will be sharp tonight and we hit .500 again in the Baby Blues(saliva not included).
MW: Thigpen would be an interesting option, but Diaz is more ready to play third base, believe it or not.
- ToddHey Mike,
Big fan of your blog. I know there will always be the debate regarding defense in left field. Haven’t heard anyone consider (only in late game situations) to sub in McDonald to 3rd and Scutaro to LF. I know he has played a little LF in the past and not sure if he is better defensively vs. Stewart or Stairs? Not sure if that would work but thought I would throw it out.
Thanks!
MW: I’d rather have either Stewart or Stairs in left than Scutaro.
- AKDo you think they will have enough money to sign Dustin McGowan and shawn marcum since we have all our money tied in to rios, hill, and wells.
MW: Yep
- tonyHow much money will the Jays have to play with if Burnett and thomas are gone this offseason. Will they have enough money to make a run at sabathia and/or a left handed power bat?
MW: Can’t answer that right now, don’t have enough time.
- aviMike, since it is Roberto Aloumar day, what do remember best about the man. What I best remembered about him was that he just wowed me for his defense at second base. Also can you give me your top 10 all time blue jay greats?
MW: See above answer
- matt“As Hill said afterwards, he could have waited on gone year-to-year, but ‘how greedy can you be?’”
Love that quote from Hill. In addition to being a great 2nd basemen, his character makes me glad to hear the Jays have locked him up.
- DaverSorry being offtopic here, but do you think scott Rolen is a ble jays next year?
MW: No, but he’s probably still a Blue Jay.
- garyI seem to remember some doubters saying that Marcum will come back down to earth ???
I can’t say that im shocked. I never lost faith in Marcum or in the Jays, unlike some people out there.
Im not talking about you Mike, you said we couldn’t reasonable expect Marcum to carry shutouts into the 7th like he did last year.
Though i agree, it wont stop me from unreasonable expecting Marcum to carry a shutout into the 6th for the majority of his games.
8 strikeouts against the RedSox ? The best hitting team last year. All i got to say: WOW! … that being, probably what i would say ‘if’ i was suprised.
MW: If you don’t allow a performance like Marcum had Friday to WOW you, then you’re going to be disappointed a lot of the time. I mean, what does someone have to do to impress you? I’m glad, at least, that you’re aware your expectations are unreasonable.
- Davemike..mike..
i think shaun marcum badly overachieved tonight. He is a poor pitcher with weak stuff. Gustavo Chacin is better than him and should be the 4th starter.
MW: Gustavo Chacin isn’t better than any of the 12 pitchers on the current Jays roster.
- Stevenhey mike, i understand what you are saying about coaches and their decisions regarding relief pitching, although I do think managers these days are a little too conservative with their bullpens and it may be costing them W’s. Why worry about whether or not you guys is gunna be able to throw tomorrow, if throwing him and extra stanza today is going to give you a better opportunity for the win?
MW: Agreed, but also, why throw him the extra inning with a reasonable lead, therefore making sure you won’t be able to use him tomorrow, as opposed to throwing the guy you’ll be forced to use the next day in a closer game?
- JamieBest Alomar moment as a Jay would have to be his game-tieing dinger against Oakland in the ALCS
MW: Yep, that’d have to be it. No question. He told me he still dreams about that homer.
- JamieMike,
This has nothing to do with anything that’s been discussed in this particular blog, but whatever…
I think the Jays should continue to use the bunt to move guys over. If anything, it puts more pressure on the opposing defence.
It doesn’t have to be used every time a guy gets on base, but if it’s NEVER used, the infield and pitcher can relax a little, assuming it’s not going to happen.
Great things can occur when the fielders have to move around to cover bases, slow moving bunts can throw off their timing etc.
In low scoring games with good pitching, we’ve got to MAKE things happen, not hope for the gapper or the long ball.
It’s not going to work every time it’s attempted, but it can create some momentum.
I know you hate the bunt, but give it a chance man.
MW: Nope. I hate it.
- DJJAY“i think shaun marcum badly overachieved tonight. He is a poor pitcher with weak stuff.”
Sounds like a Boston fan to me !
MW: It’s great that someone can say a guy sucks when he’s just carried a one-hit shutout into the 7th against a great bunch of hitters. That guy’s got panache.
- Cecil