The Blue Jays Saga Continues with Free Agent Drama For The Ages
stadiumreport.bbn March 5th, 2012
Using the set up
Toronto Blue Jays sanction board, the team went on a signing spree on the free agent market that would make any fan smile… until reality hit the front office and MLB in a way they never expected.
The announcement of the free agent signings at 10 o’clock in the morning surprised the other owners as the
Toronto Blue Jays signed:
RHSP
Michael Pineda(23, 3.5*, 1x All-Star) 9-10 3.74 173K 28GS 3.3WAR with SEA for 1y/$12M paid by MLB.
RHSP
Carlos Carrasco(25, ¾*) 8-9 4.62 85K 21GS 1.1WAR with CLE for 1y/$5M paid by MLB.
RHRP
Ryan Madson(31, 4.5*) 4-2 32SV 2.37 62K 62G 1.7WAR with PHI for 1y/$8M paid by MLB.
RHRP
Joakim Soria(27, 3.5*) 5-5 28SV 4.03 60K 60G 0.5WAR with KC for 1y/$5M paid by MLB.
C
Victor Martinez(33, 4.5*, 4x All-Star 1x Silver Slugger) .330-12-103 .850OPS 145G 4.2WAR with DET for 1y/$27.5M paid by MLB.
In a horrible turn of events that nobody except Scott Boras had in mind,
Pineda,
Madson and
Martinez announced that they would execute their right as players on the
Toronto Blue Jays 40-man to demand be traded or released until opening day.
Lawyers from the
Blue Jays and MLB as well as the MLBPA were shocked and double checked the settlement… just to realize that they did not think of this scenario and that Scott Boras and his clients have to right to do exactly what they did. This gives the
Toronto Blue Jays three more trade options as
Carrasco and
Soria waived their rights and announced that they want to stay at the Rogers Center for the season.