Maybe in 4 years if all goes well the Jays can be good enough to contend like we could have this year

Turning down 4/80 for 3/60 seems like a poor decision

they were actually able to save a little bit of face by getting $65m/3 + an option (with a $5m buyout)

I am in the minority I guess and not worried that EE is gone. I was a big fan of his, and was glad we got the production we did out of him. His back is not great, but it was good last year. History, though, would suggest that his back is going to a problem over the next 4 years.

I think we made a very good offer, that turned out to be a great offer (everything that EE wanted - 4 years and staying in Toronto). But, I think that as early as year 1 of this contract, we will be glad we didn't sign him.

With that door closed, let's spend some money to fill some holes.

See ya Edwin. You and your parrot were awesome.

Unfortunately I don't see Morales filling that hole

Edwin is actually getting a little more money in Cleveland even if his option isn't picked up. We can thank the government again.

~53% tax rate on the 4x80 = ~38m
~39% tax rate on the 3x60 = ~36m + 5m buyout or option. This doesn't include State Tax, but at that federal tax level they get breaks I think.

Not to mention Federal US tax will likely go down under Trump.

I'm sure his agent is well aware of this but given it's almost equal he'd probably pick Toronto.

That's not how athlete tax works. They get taxed based on where each game is played. Jays players have 81 games taxed at the Canadian rate then 81 games taxed at American state rates.

I don't think this is true

It's generally true. Most states have a "jock tax" that accomplishes this.

Perhaps we could have spent money on Edwin if we got cheap SP from Jeff Hoffman, Daniel Norris or Matt Boyd

Good article on lol Shapiro

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/bl...o-renaissance/

Jeff Blair tweeted out this week that something Blue Jay related was picking up steam and that there will be movement this weekend.

Barney, Loup and Carrera all avoid arbitration, Stroman files for $3.4MM, Jays counter at $3.15 and appear to be headed to a hearing. NEWS.

GOAT is back?

Sounding like 2 years 35-40m. Meh.

Still upset about Morales deal which resulted in no Edwin.

looking like 1 + mutual option now

Yeah I don't love the sounds of 1 and a mutual option. When would a mutual option ever get exercised? Maybe there's very median outcome where they both agree, but it sounds more like a PR option. Just lock him down. I'll take Joey 2/$35-40 over Edwin 4/$80 and be happy about it.

I don't know these contract things well but it seems like a mutual option is just face saving (perhaps for Jose). If he sucks/is injured etc the jays don't extend and if he has a great year he either tries the FA route again or negotiates a higher option with the Jays?

Like you, I am trying to imagine what type of season he would have for it to come into play..

I am more concerned with whether he comes back with crappy attitude. Seems like a marriage of convenience. Unlike with Edwin, who really wanted to be here, Jose had something to prove on the FA market and that went bust.

Oh well... hope he is healthy enough for RF..

Yeah Edwin wanted to be here so badly he turned down 4/80 from us, I don't care about his agent and the market and whatever, he clearly didn't want to be here THAT badly.

Very few mutual options get exercised on both ends, though I suppose the fact that there's a vesting option for $20MM could offer some incentive to a 37 year old? Even that vesting option seems almost impossible (300 games played between 2018+2019) at age 38.

I don't agree. I think he wanted to be here and if the Jays had put that offer back on the table he would be. His agent was doing what he was supposed to do, and the Jays acting quickly after the rejection probably surprised them. Then the market wasn't there for 4/80 until Cleveland came looking..

I loved Edwin, but I am not sorry we didn't sign him. I just have a feeling some of his past injuries (back...) are going to catch up with him and that last year being healthy all year was more of an anomaly..

I do wonder why, with our market and attendance, why we still didn't have another 20M-30M to spend on some relief pitching and an outfielder. That is disappointing.

Yeah, calling this face-saving seems reasonable, though I'm cautiously optimistic (doubtless just the fan in me) that those options could get exercised. If he comes off a nice season - say a 130-135 wRC+, dubious-but-not-awful defense and baserunning, 1 DL stint so maybe 135 games started - will he get that much more than $20/1 with a good chance of $40/2? At 37? I dunno.

In a Bats vs Morales batting bet what should the categories be? Avg, obp, hr...

Depends on who you want to win. Morales runs a higher BABIP and about the same K-rate as Bautista, so I might take him on AVG. Everything else I want Joey.

if you want morales make sure left handed home runs is a catagory

A fine article on mutual options, if - like me - you were kinda confused by it.