Post by #1 Jays Fan on Apr 5, 2008 12:09:30 GMT -5
TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays took a major step toward building a new core of players for the 2011 season and beyond Friday by locking up young stars Alex Rios and Aaron Hill to long-term deals.
Rios, the two-time all-star right-fielder, gets a US$64-million, six-year extension that contains an option for the 2015 season worth $13.5 million and a limited no-trade clause.
Hill, a second baseman headed for stardom, inked a $12-million, four-year contract that starts this season and contains options for 2012, 2013 and 2014. The options are not year-to-year -- the Blue Jays must extend him by opening day 2011 for three seasons at a total of $26 million, or after the 2011 campaign for one season at $8 million or two at $16 million.
They join centre-fielder Vernon Wells, who is in the first season of a $126 million, seven-year deal, as the only players under contract after the 2010 season. A major changeover could occur then, with young prospects like Travis Snider, Adam Lind, Justin Jackson and Kevin Ahrens expected to be ready for prime time.
"If you look at the structure of the club, after '10, you've got Vernon, you've got Hill and you've got Rios, that's a pretty good core of everyday players to go with the (prospects) that are coming," said general manager J.P. Ricciardi. "You have to be pre-emptive in your young players that you believe in.
"We've done this before, we're batting .500 on that one, but sometimes you have to take those chances."
That was a reference to the five-year deals given to Wells and Eric Hinske before the 2003 season. The Blue Jays hadn't given such a deal to another player since until Friday, and should he continue his growth, young right-hander Dustin McGowan could be the next to get one.
Ace Roy Halladay, signed through 2010, may also be approached at some point about an extension to give the team's pitching staff some backbone for the next cycle.
The Rios and Hill deals follow a growing trend in baseball where teams pay more for a player during his arbitration years (3-6 of their careers) in exchange for a discount on the player's free agent years (6-and-up).
Others to sign such deals this off-season included: Miguel Cabrera ($153.3 million, eight years), Justin Morneau of New Westminster, B.C. ($80 million, six years), Troy Tulowitzki ($31 million, six years), Curtis Granderson ($31.25 million, five years) and Brad Hawpe ($17.425 million, three years).
"It's more of a security issue, you want to put as much years in the big-leagues as you can, financial security and I wanted to stay here for a long time," said Rios. "I like the organization and I had the opportunity to be here for a while, I felt like it was a good chance to be part of the team."
Added Hill: "There's not too many chances you get in life to feel as financially secure as this. This is the first chance to go out there and really set your family up."
The announcements were made hours ahead of the Jays' home opener against the Boston Red Sox with Wells, Halladay, Matt Stairs of Fredericton, Lyle Overbay and John McDonald on hand at the news conference.
"When you can lock your core guys up long-term, it stablizes the organization," said manager John Gibbons. "It works out for both the player, they get more money now, and kind of protects the club a little bit, too. They're two of the better young players in the game."
The 27-year-old Rios batted .297 and set career highs with 24 home runs and 85 RBIs last season, when he earned $2,535,000. He avoided salary arbitration Feb. 5 by agreeing to a $4,835,000, one-year contract. His extension starts in 2009.
"I still can't believe it, I never knew I was going to be making so much money," said Rios. "It's all good."
The 26-year-old Hill batted .291 last season with 17 homers and 78 RBIs. He'll earn $410,000 this season, $2.59 million in 2009, $4 million in 2010 and $5 million in 2011.
Negotiations between the team and Rios have been ongoing since the winter but heated up in the spring.
A framework was completed last week, leaving only the final details to be worked out. The contract comes after the San Francisco Giants rejected a Rios-for-Tim Lincecum deal during the off-season.
The Hill deal came as a surprise as talks appeared to have been shelved until next off-season.
"J.P. and I talked quite a bit about what happens if this happens, a lot of guys will say year-to-year, you do this, you do that, but when it comes down to it, you're set, you're family is set," said Hill. "It came down to a gut-feeling. I respect the opinions of my teammates, my adviser, we talked for a long time and my wife and I just sat down and looked at what's really important."
Rios, the two-time all-star right-fielder, gets a US$64-million, six-year extension that contains an option for the 2015 season worth $13.5 million and a limited no-trade clause.
Hill, a second baseman headed for stardom, inked a $12-million, four-year contract that starts this season and contains options for 2012, 2013 and 2014. The options are not year-to-year -- the Blue Jays must extend him by opening day 2011 for three seasons at a total of $26 million, or after the 2011 campaign for one season at $8 million or two at $16 million.
They join centre-fielder Vernon Wells, who is in the first season of a $126 million, seven-year deal, as the only players under contract after the 2010 season. A major changeover could occur then, with young prospects like Travis Snider, Adam Lind, Justin Jackson and Kevin Ahrens expected to be ready for prime time.
"If you look at the structure of the club, after '10, you've got Vernon, you've got Hill and you've got Rios, that's a pretty good core of everyday players to go with the (prospects) that are coming," said general manager J.P. Ricciardi. "You have to be pre-emptive in your young players that you believe in.
"We've done this before, we're batting .500 on that one, but sometimes you have to take those chances."
That was a reference to the five-year deals given to Wells and Eric Hinske before the 2003 season. The Blue Jays hadn't given such a deal to another player since until Friday, and should he continue his growth, young right-hander Dustin McGowan could be the next to get one.
Ace Roy Halladay, signed through 2010, may also be approached at some point about an extension to give the team's pitching staff some backbone for the next cycle.
The Rios and Hill deals follow a growing trend in baseball where teams pay more for a player during his arbitration years (3-6 of their careers) in exchange for a discount on the player's free agent years (6-and-up).
Others to sign such deals this off-season included: Miguel Cabrera ($153.3 million, eight years), Justin Morneau of New Westminster, B.C. ($80 million, six years), Troy Tulowitzki ($31 million, six years), Curtis Granderson ($31.25 million, five years) and Brad Hawpe ($17.425 million, three years).
"It's more of a security issue, you want to put as much years in the big-leagues as you can, financial security and I wanted to stay here for a long time," said Rios. "I like the organization and I had the opportunity to be here for a while, I felt like it was a good chance to be part of the team."
Added Hill: "There's not too many chances you get in life to feel as financially secure as this. This is the first chance to go out there and really set your family up."
The announcements were made hours ahead of the Jays' home opener against the Boston Red Sox with Wells, Halladay, Matt Stairs of Fredericton, Lyle Overbay and John McDonald on hand at the news conference.
"When you can lock your core guys up long-term, it stablizes the organization," said manager John Gibbons. "It works out for both the player, they get more money now, and kind of protects the club a little bit, too. They're two of the better young players in the game."
The 27-year-old Rios batted .297 and set career highs with 24 home runs and 85 RBIs last season, when he earned $2,535,000. He avoided salary arbitration Feb. 5 by agreeing to a $4,835,000, one-year contract. His extension starts in 2009.
"I still can't believe it, I never knew I was going to be making so much money," said Rios. "It's all good."
The 26-year-old Hill batted .291 last season with 17 homers and 78 RBIs. He'll earn $410,000 this season, $2.59 million in 2009, $4 million in 2010 and $5 million in 2011.
Negotiations between the team and Rios have been ongoing since the winter but heated up in the spring.
A framework was completed last week, leaving only the final details to be worked out. The contract comes after the San Francisco Giants rejected a Rios-for-Tim Lincecum deal during the off-season.
The Hill deal came as a surprise as talks appeared to have been shelved until next off-season.
"J.P. and I talked quite a bit about what happens if this happens, a lot of guys will say year-to-year, you do this, you do that, but when it comes down to it, you're set, you're family is set," said Hill. "It came down to a gut-feeling. I respect the opinions of my teammates, my adviser, we talked for a long time and my wife and I just sat down and looked at what's really important."
