It would seem that the final Blue Jays’ roster piece, a left-handed bullpen specialist to replace Brett Cecil and rank ahead of Aaron Loup, is finally in place. It was reported Tuesday that veteran reliever J.P. Howell has agreed to terms with the Jays on a one-year contract for 2017. The deal between the Jays and the 33-year-old lefty specialist was first reported by Buster Olney of ESPN.com.
Howell pitched with the Dodgers the past four seasons after establishing himself inside the hothouse of the AL East, when he worked out of the Rays’ pen from 2006-12. The Modesto, Calif., native broke in with the Royals in 2005, after being selected 31st overall by Kansas City in June 2004. The durable lefty has averaged 64 relief appearances each of the past five seasons and has not been on the disabled list since 2011.
In his career facing the Jays’ four AL East opponents, Howell has posted a 5-6 record, with a 4.28 ERA, pitching 117 2/3 innings, allowing 107 hits with 64 walks and 110 strikeouts. His career numbers facing left-handed hitters, which will be his primary purpose, are strong, with opponents hitting .229 and managing a .624 OPS. But his 2016 splits against lefty hitters were not so good, with a .302 average and a .760 OPS against, although he walked just four of the 102 lefthanded batters he faced.
Following the earlier re-signing of free-agent Jose Bautista and the inking of reserve catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, the last remaining need was a top left-handed relief specialist. It was believed the leading free-agent candidates were Jerry Blevins and Boone Logan, in addition to Howell, and you could throw a blanket over that trio.
Howell is 33 and earned $6.25-million in 2016. Blevins is 33 and made $4M with the Mets. Logan, 32, made $6.25 million with the Rockies this past season.
They all are within the wheelhouse of salary the Jays were willing to negotiate to fill that role, once they knew the cost certainty of the outfielder (Bautista) and backup catcher (Saltalamacchia) spots. Cecil, you will recall, departed as a free agent to the Cardinals, signing a four-year deal averaging $7.75-million per season.
With the Blue Jays’ brass about finished in terms of 2017 roster building, it’s time to assess the 2017 player payroll damage in the light of day. As background, the Jays’ opening-day payroll in 2016 stood at $136.8M (as per Cot’s Baseball Contracts), and Toronto ended the season ranked 14th in spending among 30 teams.
The Jays will have 18 players under guaranteed contracts, totalling $158 million. There are eight Jays paid $10M-plus by Rogers ownership. That list is led by catcher Russell Martin and shortstop Troy Tulowitzki at $20 million; Bautista $18M; third baseman Josh Donaldson at $17M; three starting pitchers, Marco Estrada $14M, Francisco Liriano $13M and J.A. Happ $13M, plus DH Kendrys Morales Betmatik at $10 million.
The Jays are only responsible for $5 million on the final contract season of outfielder Melvin Upton, Jr. The balance of the $16.45M is being paid by the Padres.
One of the more interesting roster presences is 23-year-old Cuban free-agent Lourdes Gurriel, listed as an infielder-outfielder. The former member of the Cuban national team signed a seven-year, major-league, $22M contract, but only $600,000 is assigned to 2017, a year in which he is expected to start in the minor leagues, likely at Class-A Dunedin. But he will be fast-tracked to the major leagues, so expect to see him in the majors by June. That being said, left field is Gurriel’s most likely landing spot to begin his major-league career, with second, third and short already ably occupied.
Howell joins Jason Grilli as the highest-paid relievers in the Jays bullpen. Closer Roberto Osuna has just two years of major-league service and is not even arbitration eligible, so is under club control at around $1 million.
There are 12 players on the 40-man roster that are under club control, with major-league experience but not eligible for arbitration. That list is led by Osuna, starter Aaron Sanchez, centre fielder Kevin Pillar, second baseman Devon Travis, reliever Joe Biagini and infielder Ryan Goins.
This under-control list, likely at less than a million each for 2017, is strewn with bullpen candidates like Bo Schultz, Danny Barnes, Rule 5 pick Glenn Sparkman, Ryan Tepera and free-agent lefty swingman Brett Oberholtzer.
Starter Marcus Stroman made an unnecessary decision to go through the arbitration process to its conclusion. The Jays are offering $3.1 million, while Stroman’s demand is $3.4M. The Jays policy has been not to settle once the numbers are filed. Win or lose, it is always a negative experience.
The Jays’ opening-day payroll for 2017, given the current roster and not taking into account possible trades at spring training or additional free-agent signings, should be in the area of $168 million. That would be the highest in Jays’ history, beating out 2014 and will likely be in baseball’s top 12.
That being said, this Jays team on paper is not as good as the one that finished 2016 as a wild-card, which was not as good as the one that finished 2015 as division champions. The Jays will need some pleasant surprises and unexpected overachievers to get back to the playoffs.
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