TORONTO – The Toronto Blue Jays signed or reached agreement with six players — headlined by shortstop Manuel Beltre — as the international free-agency period opened Friday, while signing Teoscar Hernandez and Ross Stripling to one-year deals ahead of the arbitration filing deadline.
The flurry of activity came amid word that free-agent target D.J. LeMahieu reached agreement to rejoin the New York Yankees for $90 million over six years. Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported that the Blue Jays offered $78 million over four years.
Blue Jays offered $78M for 4 years for LeMahieu, showing they meant business. Yankees had been in that ballpark for 4 as well, but the sides agreed on a longer agreement instead. Helps Yanks AAV, and thus their tax.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 15, 2021
While upgrades to the major-league roster remain elusive, the Blue Jays took care of some organizational housekeeping by settling with Hernandez at $4.325 million and Stripling at $3 million while making commitments to restock the minor-league cupboards.
Front and centre in that regard is Beltre, who signed for $2.35 million according to an industry source who described him as a “really, really advanced hitter.”
The Dominican Republic native has a clean simple swing with a strong feel and understanding for the components of his hitting. Defensively, he has a good chance of staying at shortstop but projects as a plus second baseman if he has to change positions.
Beltre, who was bought out of a commitment to Florida International University, is bilingual and has documented his progression via Instagram. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., is among his followers.
The Blue Jays also signed shortstop Luis Garcia (Venezuela), catcher Jonathan Peguero (Dominican Republic) and outfielders Yhoangel Aponte (Venzuela) and Yeuni Munoz (Dominican Republic), and have agreed to terms with shortstop Martin Gimenez, pending a physical.
The deals eat up the vast majority of the Blue Jays’ $5.348-million international bonus pool, and they’re likely to make a handful of $10,000 signings.
Hernandez’s bump to $4.325 million comes in his first year eligible for arbitration and positions him to aggressively accelerate his salary if he continues to perform the way he did last season, when he batted .289/.340/.579 with 16 homers in 50 games.
Stripling, acquired from the Dodgers at the trade deadline, goes to $3 million his second time through arbitration.
The Blue Jays now have $66.2 million in guaranteed salaries for the 2021 season.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiZGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnNwb3J0c25ldC5jYS9tbGIvYXJ0aWNsZS9ibHVlLWpheXMtc2lnbi1hZHZhbmNlZC1oaXR0ZXItbWFudWVsLWJlbHRyZS1hbWlkLWZsdXJyeS1tb3Zlcy_SAWNodHRwczovL3d3dy5zcG9ydHNuZXQuY2EvbWxiL2JsdWUtamF5cy1zaWduLWFkdmFuY2VkLWhpdHRlci1tYW51ZWwtYmVsdHJlLWFtaWQtZmx1cnJ5LW1vdmVzL3NuLWFtcC8?oc=5
2021-01-15 18:35:00Z
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