FanNation

Good, now if the guy can get some luck injury-wise and play close to a full season, he'd be worth it!

Either way, the Jays offense is their Achilles heel now, especially with Rolen down, so locking this guy up long-term is key.

Bentley00 - Welcome Schenner | 03/27/08, 08:44 AM

NO WAY signing a long term deal to play for the Blue Jays is a good idea. Wait until feree agency and get your money in the good ole USA

METS4LIFE | 03/27/08, 09:02 AM

The good ole USA is broke paying for an illegal war.

jazminsdaddy | 03/27/08, 09:43 AM

The Jays signed him so they can trade him for pitching help anyway. They tried to deal him the last two years and the deals fell through. Rios has the reputation of being a soft player and nothing of a presence in the locker room. If the Jays could pry another affordable #1 or 2 from another club, they would ship Rios out and bolster their rotation in a minute.

joec | 03/27/08, 09:50 AM

Heck, I'm American and I agree that the Iraq war is a big pile of dogsh*t and has been since it began. I'm not too worried though, it's not me getting blown up for nothing. Anyway Rios will get big money, hooray.

nathan9311 | 03/27/08, 11:40 AM

The way the BlueJays are losing players to injuries I would keep my fingers crossed after they resign Rios to the big bucks !!!

Hub Man | 03/27/08, 12:25 PM

I just love the way these millions of dollars for mediocre players on mediocre teams are just thrown around like they were Monoply money ...

silverblack23 | 03/27/08, 03:13 PM

That is one more year and $10 million more than David Wright's deal (5/$55) signed with the Mets last season AND Wright is more consistent, a better run producer and hits for more power. He also has more stolen bases than Rios.

Are the Blue Jays that starved for offense? Did they learn anything from giving Vernon Wells all that money?

thejobarules | 03/27/08, 03:39 PM

2 things-
in response to silver-
fortunately for the mediocre....baseball is at an all-time high-
the money is there- 11 mil for a solid everyday OF is actually a bargain- when you think about 3-4 years down the road

and 2-
jobarules-
David Wright is certainly MORE deserving,
but he was given the contract to avoid arbitration- he wins & the Mets win.
He will also be Rios' age when that contract expires-
(which will likely be ripped up and re-done by then)

jgb | 03/27/08, 04:39 PM

jgb - true about Wright, but Rios was also eligible for arbitration. The Jays avoided that by signing Rios to a 1 year, $4.8MM deal in February, thus avoiding arbitration.

Wright and Rios have both played four seasons in the bigs, although Wright came up midway thru the 2004 season. Age has nothing to do with arbitration, it is the years of service.

What is really interesting is what the Braves are going to do with Jeff Francoeur. Except for slightly lower power numbers, Francoeur has almost the same stats Wright had put up in their first three seasons. But, the Braves only issued a low budget contract to him for this season.

thejobarules | 03/27/08, 08:05 PM

Actually rios is a very fine player, when he is healthy.

The Original Tony | 03/27/08, 09:53 PM

'I'm not too worried though, it's not me getting blown up for nothing. '

We military people than you for such a comment...here I am going to Iraq, and I get to read c.r.a.p. like this...yeah, as long as it's not YOU getting killed or injured, it's no biggy...

Appreciate it...

Jimmer69 IS Darth Caedus! | 03/27/08, 10:07 PM

Rios is quietly good. but That is one expensive outfield the Jays are putting together....

mlbfan76 | 03/27/08, 10:46 PM

'I'm not too worried though, it's not me getting blown up for nothing. '

We military people thank you for such a comment...here I am going to Iraq, and I get to read c.r.a.p. like this...yeah, as long as it's not YOU getting killed or injured, it's no biggy...

Appreciate it...

Jimmer69 IS Darth Caedus! | 03/27/08, 10:47 PM

The reality is is that the Jays have to overpay to get or keep players. It's not easy keeping up with the likes of the Yankees and Red Sox big budgets. Just look at AJ Burnett's contract. Barely a .500 pitcher getting that kind of money and it hasn't really paid off. Maybe this year is his year since he can walk at the end. Then the management has the hard task of convincing players to play in Toronto, because we all know it's 30?? below freezing year round up there and it's a pain to get to the ball park because of all the polar bears and such on the streets. This is the highest the budget has ever been in Toronto and I'd have think both JP's and Gibbons jobs are on the line if the Jays don't break through this year. JP was quoted as saying the team needs luck this year. That doesn't invoke a lot of confidence in the depth of his ball club. I think they can get to the 90 win mark but the Yanks and Sox will be at 95+ each so it doesn't much matter.

mr marbles | 03/28/08, 06:45 AM