When Alex Anthopoulos overpaid for Russell Martin heading into the 2015 Major League Baseball season, he did so with complete clarity about what he was buying…
Anthopoulos didn’t have to overpay for Josh Donaldson in dollars in one of the great trades in Blue Jays history. And not only did Donaldson fill a need — he was the American League MVP in his first Jays season and finished fourth in MVP voting in his second — but he had a short history of being in the playoffs in Oakland. He had played three full seasons for the A’s and been to the post-season three times. With the Jays, he continued that streak.
The past three seasons have ended in disappointment. The Jays lost that still unexplainable game to Seattle on a floundering Saturday night in October. The year before, they missed the playoffs by a game. The year before that, in a shortened season, they made the playoffs in an expanded format and were quickly dispatched by the Tampa Bay Rays.Article content
He is coming to the Blue Jays to play a little first base, a little DH, as a left-handed bat but mostly to be a 34-year-old figure of maturity in a clubhouse and dugout in need of it.Article content The three starting players the Jays have signed this off-season, Daulton Varsho, Belt, and Kiermaier, all bat left, and that’s no accident, all play defence at a reasonably high level, and all are considered to be solid citizens, which is always important in team building and clubhouse structuring.
When he says something this season, it will mean more because it came from Donnie Baseball, who was a star before Vladimir Guerrero, Dante Bichette or Craig Biggio, the Blue Jays’ dads, played their first major-league games. Mattingly brings 12 years of managing experience to the Jays to work alongside Schneider, who has 74 games himself.Article content
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Blue Jays acquire pitcher Zach Thompson from Pirates for minor leaguer Chavez YoungRight-hander Zach Thompson made 22 starts for the Pittsburgh Pirates last season. The six-foot-seven, 250-pounder was 3-10 with a 5.18 earned-run average over 29 appearances
Read more »
Scott Stinson: With relatively small signing, Toronto Blue Jays show intent to spend bigBrandon Belt\u0027s reported US$9.3\u002Dmillion salary is the kind of deal that a team being cautious about its payroll just doesn’t make
Read more »
Newest Toronto Blue Jays player is a proud connoisseur of chicken tendersThe Toronto Blue Jays have signed first baseman Brandon Belt to a one-year, $9.3 million deal. While the Jays have yet to make the signing official...
Read more »
Blue Jays sign former Giant Brandon Belt to one-year dealThe Blue Jays have added a two\u002Dtime World Series champion as the latest move in a busy off\u002Dseason overhaul.
Read more »
Blue Jays acquire pitcher Zach Thompson from PiratesThe Toronto Blue Jays have added more depth to the rotation, acquiring pitcher Zach Thompson from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday.
Read more »
Blue Jays agree to terms on one-year deal with longtime Giants first baseman Brandon BeltThe Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to terms with infielder Brandon Belt on a US$9.3-million, one-year contract.
Read more »