Baseball’s non-tender deadline typically leads to a flurry of moves. Trades, non-tenders and pre-deadline contract agreements are possible before Tuesday’s 11:59 pm ET deadline for teams to offer contracts to arbitration-eligible players.
It has the potential to be a busy day for the Toronto Blue Jays.
“All those things are in play right now,” GM Alex Anthopoulos told Bob McCown and Michael Grange on Sportsnet 590 The FAN Monday. “I don’t know exactly what we’re doing yet because we still have quite a few balls in the air. There are some discussions that we’re having right now that impact [the tender] deadline.”
That doesn’t mean the Blue Jays have to make any moves, though. Anthopoulos explained that he’s not close to anything and cautioned that Tuesday could be quiet.
The Blue Jays got an early start on the non-tender process when they cut ties with Juan Francisco by exposing him to waivers. The remaining seven eligible players seem like good bets to obtain contract offers. Here’s a closer look at the group, based on the projected arbitration salaries at MLB Trade Rumors:
LISTEN: Alex Anthopoulos on Prime Time Sports
Marco Estrada, RHP
2015 role: Estrada would be a reliever if the season opened today, but he has considerable experience starting which means the Blue Jays could turn to him if their current rotation loses depth. Now that the Blue Jays have traded Kendall Graveman and Sean Nolin, Estrada’s history as a starter seems particularly useful.
Projected salary: $4.7 million
Josh Donaldson, 3B
2015 role: Donaldson will be Toronto’s starting third baseman and a key producer in the team’s lineup. He’s now a bargain with a projected salary of $4.5 million, but that figure will increase in the coming seasons, since he’ll go to arbitration three more times.
Projected salary: $4.5 million
Justin Smoak, 1B
2015 role: Smoak figures to get considerable playing time at first base, where he’ll have the chance to play in a hitter-friendly park and rebound from a down year. The Blue Jays declined his $3.65-million option because he projects to earn closer to $3 million through the arbitration process following a down year at the plate.
Projected salary: $3 million
Off-season Calendar & Glossary
Brett Cecil, LHP
2015 role: Cecil projects to continue pitching high-leverage late-game innings. He’s due for a raise after earning $1.3 million in 2014.
Projected salary: $2.6 million
John Mayberry Jr., OF
2015 role: Mayberry projects as a part-time player who sees lots of action against left-handed pitching given his career .857 OPS against southpaws. The Blue Jays could mix him in at left field, first base and as a pinch hitter.
Projected salary: $1.9 million
Danny Valencia, IF
2015 role: Like Mayberry, Valencia has enjoyed lots of success against left-handed pitching (career .870 OPS). However, he doesn’t produce as much against right-handers and the Blue Jays expect Donaldson to play just about every day at third, Valencia’s primary position.
Valencia has legitimate power and his ability against lefties is valuable, but I can see a scenario where the Blue Jays deem him expendable given their remaining needs, alternatives at third (Donaldson, Steve Tolleson, Maicer Izturis), and existing lefty mashers (Dioner Navarro, Mayberry). That said, trading Navarro would open up the DH spot against left-handed pitching, and there’s little harm in holding onto Valencia for added depth.
Projected salary: $1.7 million
Andy Dirks, OF
2015 role: The left-handed hitting Dirks could figure into Toronto’s left field mix if healthy (he missed most of the 2014 season due to a back injury). The Blue Jays have yet to acquire an everyday option in left, so they still have a spot for the long-time Tigers outfielder. Arbitration salaries aren’t guaranteed until spring training, which means the decision to tender a contract wouldn’t be completely binding.
Projected salary: $1.6 million
