$18 million for two years in Toronto -- Frank Thomas

Barndog

ESPN just splashed the news.

kcballboy

Sounds like he earned quite a raise after last year's 500,000 base with incentives

ArnyVee

Wow, seems like that's an awful lot for Thomas. Although, there are some utility guys getting a couple of million a year.

IrishMike

Can you spell INFLASHUN?

kcballboy

Just read an article that raised the point - Thomas turned down more money from the Twins last year because he was concerned about playing on the artificial turf. So now he signs with Toronto to play on their artificial turf.

I wonder if he knows this is the last contract he will ever sign so he just decided to take the money regardless of where he was and how he performs.

80sToyguy

Perfect fit for the Big Hurt, he's only going to DH and the Jays just added 30+ homers (which they needed because it looks more and more likely they are going to have to trade Wells), for 9 million dollars--a bargain in any book (it's now being bantered about that Soriano WILL reach 20 million per year). Add to the fact it will put arses in the seats when he goes for 500 sometime around mid-summer, things are looking up.
As a side note, if the Mets are able to add one more young arm to the Millege/Heilman package I think this trade will happen, which suits both teams well.
Jay

slumlord98

Ahh, the Big Shirt, sure to disappoint when the chips are down. A 40+ yr. Whits Sox fan, I was ecstatic when he was let go last year.

Writer11

<< <i>Perfect fit for the Big Hurt, he's only going to DH and the Jays just added 30+ homers (which they needed because it looks more and more likely they are going to have to trade Wells), for 9 million dollars--a bargain in any book (it's now being bantered about that Soriano WILL reach 20 million per year). Add to the fact it will put arses in the seats when he goes for 500 sometime around mid-summer, things are looking up.
As a side note, if the Mets are able to add one more young arm to the Millege/Heilman package I think this trade will happen, which suits both teams well.
Jay >>



I agree with you, Jay. To me it comes down to whether you want a 3rd or 4th starter like Lilly or Meche for $9 million a season or a someone who is likely to hit 30+ HRs and 100 RBIs for the same amount of money. I'll take Thomas any day. The fact of the matter today is that the Blue Jays, because of being located in another country (with additional taxes, blah blah blah), have to overpay for free agents. People complained that they payed too much for B.J. Ryan last year until about June when he his ERA was 0.24. Now people say it was a great signing.

ctsoxfan

I never thought Toronto paid too much for Ryan - there are very few closers out there like him, and this season, there are none like him available at all.

Nice to see Toronto keeping things interesting in the AL East.

IrishMike

Are we gonna take bets (figure of speech) how long it will take Frank to land on the DL? Seems like a lot of money for someone who has averaged less than 95 games a season since 2001. Anyway was one of my favorites with the Sox, I wish him well.

CreeperKat

I've heard that the Blue Jays have to pay more for players because of the taxes in Canada. Is there any truth to that?

80sToyguy

I think there is some truth, but alot of the money isn't taxed the same way because the players (most of them), aren't Canadian citizens. I remember Gord Ash talking about this very subject a few years back, and there are ways of making it easy for the player to keep the majority of the money (or all of it).
Writer, unfortunately I see the Jays spending another large sum of money on a pitcher as well, it looks like JP really wants Randy Wolf now (the same way he wanted AJ last year). And we're talking more stupid money (as in 10ish mil per season to lure him), although Rogers did say he was going to raise the payroll. It looks like now it's going to end up somewhere around 100-115 mil. I think Ted (Rogers), probably told JP I'll give you 2 more years. After that, if we don't catch the Yanks or Sox, you've got to bring the payroll back down (to 70ish mil, where Ted is probably pocketing around 20-30 million). So JP has this small window to try to bring players in and if they are able to win (or get in the playoffs), Ted will probably keep the payroll up there. If not, you will see a mass trading at the end of 2008, not unlike what happened to the Spos in 1994.
Jay

Barndog

<< <i>I think there is some truth, but alot of the money isn't taxed the same way because the players (most of them), aren't Canadian citizens. I remember Gord Ash talking about this very subject a few years back, and there are ways of making it easy for the player to keep the majority of the money (or all of it).
Writer, unfortunately I see the Jays spending another large sum of money on a pitcher as well, it looks like JP really wants Randy Wolf now (the same way he wanted AJ last year). And we're talking more stupid money (as in 10ish mil per season to lure him), although Rogers did say he was going to raise the payroll. It looks like now it's going to end up somewhere around 100-115 mil. I think Ted (Rogers), probably told JP I'll give you 2 more years. After that, if we don't catch the Yanks or Sox, you've got to bring the payroll back down (to 70ish mil, where Ted is probably pocketing around 20-30 million). So JP has this small window to try to bring players in and if they are able to win (or get in the playoffs), Ted will probably keep the payroll up there. If not, you will see a mass trading at the end of 2008, not unlike what happened to the Spos in 1994.
Jay >>



half way there...Sox got caught already!

BobaFett72

The Jays need more pitching, not an aging bat.
Soriano isnt worth $20 million bucks to any team. His presence wont win anyone a championship.

softparade

<< <i>The Jays need more pitching, not an aging bat.
>>



Yes. Scoring runs was not the Blue Jays problem this year. Although I do think picking up a decent bat will help them but Frank Thomas? I don't know .... good luck with that one.

Writer11

Everybody needs more pitching, but at what price? $9 million for Randy Wolf or $9 million for Frank Thomas. It seems to me the greater risk is Wolf. I like the move. Rogers Centre is a hitter's park and I think Thomas will have a greater impact on the club than say a 3rd or 4th starter. The pitcher might come in a trade. The Jays have a lot of decent pitching prospects in their system (Adam Lind, Travis Snider, David Purcey, Rickey Romero, Chip Cannon).

kcballboy

<< <i>Everybody needs more pitching, but at what price? $9 million for Randy Wolf or $9 million for Frank Thomas. It seems to me the greater risk is Wolf. I like the move. Rogers Centre is a hitter's park and I think Thomas will have a greater impact on the club than say a 3rd or 4th starter. The pitcher might come in a trade. The Jays have a lot of decent pitching prospects in their system (Adam Lind, Travis Snider, David Purcey, Rickey Romero, Chip Cannon). >>



Rickey Romero and Chip Cannon? The names alone make them destined for greatness.

If nothing else in the adult film industry.

Writer11

<< <i>

<< <i>Everybody needs more pitching, but at what price? $9 million for Randy Wolf or $9 million for Frank Thomas. It seems to me the greater risk is Wolf. I like the move. Rogers Centre is a hitter's park and I think Thomas will have a greater impact on the club than say a 3rd or 4th starter. The pitcher might come in a trade. The Jays have a lot of decent pitching prospects in their system (Adam Lind, Travis Snider, David Purcey, Rickey Romero, Chip Cannon). >>



Rickey Romero and Chip Cannon? The names alone make them destined for greatness.

If nothing else in the adult film industry. >>

A761506

I think it was a huge mistake by Toronto to give him a 2 year deal at that kind of money. I really didn't see that type of need for them, I think they have much bigger fish to fry that figuring out how to score more runs unless they feel the only way to beat their division rival teams is to outslug them, since there is a noticable lack of quality pitching in that entire division.

I think Toronto's second mistake has yet to come, but I doubt they are going to resign Ted Lilly, who I think has a ton of upside and a modest price tag compared to some of these other guys like Zito, Schmidt & Pettitte.

Barndog

the word across baseball is that the sport is awash in cash that owners are more willing to part with ($51.1 million anyone?), so players and agents have the expectation for sick money for less than great players.

Writer11

<< <i>

I think Toronto's second mistake has yet to come, but I doubt they are going to resign Ted Lilly, who I think has a ton of upside and a modest price tag compared to some of these other guys like Zito, Schmidt & Pettitte. >>



I respect what you're saying, but I will be shocked if there is any sort of upside to Lilly. The guy is one of the most enigmatic, inconsistent guys out there. He's a six inning pitcher, who won 15 games last year largely because of the Jays' offence. He's also the type to tap the manager on the shoulder before the day of a start and tell him he has a sore shoulder or back and can't pitch, which may be totally justifiable, but he has left a lot of people here in Canada questioning his fortitude. I sincerely doubt he will fare any better. But I've been wrong before.