Jan 10, 2020
Jays get Giles under contract, but he's still a potential trade chip
Toronto Blue Jays closer Ken Giles will earn $9.6 million in 2020, a hefty raise from his 2019 salary, and he earned it with a sparkling 1.87 ERA with 23 saves, but if he’s healthy and pitching well and the rebuilding team is presented with an offer they can’t refuse, he’s likely on the move, Scott Mitchell writes.
TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays finished off some paperwork Friday, agreeing to one-year deals with all three of their arbitration-eligible players.
With a noon deadline looming for clubs and agents to exchange salary figures, the Jays were able to sign closer Ken Giles and starter Matt Shoemaker, while Brandon Drury agreed to terms Thursday evening.
After going to arbitration with Ryan Tepera last year and Marcus Stroman in 2018, the Jays will avoid a hearing room in February altogether this time around.
Giles was the most expensive of the trio and he’s now set to earn $9.6 million in 2020, a hefty raise from his 2019 salary of $6.3 million.
He earned it.
Not only did the 29-year-old right-hander register a sparkling 1.87 ERA with 23 saves for a 67-win ball club, Giles was also the 10th most valuable qualified reliever in all of baseball by fWAR, with a 1.8 mark.
In 12 less innings, that figure even bested the man he was traded for, Houston Astros closer Roberto Osuna, who was worth 1.6 fWAR in 2019.
Now the question becomes, how long does Giles wear a Blue Jays uniform?
The closer, himself, has talked openly about his desire to stay in Toronto via a contract extension, and while the Jays and GM Ross Atkins haven’t ruled that out, his trade value over the coming weeks and months leading into the trade deadline will have a say in that.
If Giles, who dealt with a mysterious elbow issue last season, is healthy, pitching well, and the Jays are presented with an offer they can’t refuse, he’s likely on the move.
But if the Jays show signs of being closer to contention than many expect, there could be a desire to keep one of the premier relievers in the American League around a little while longer.
Closers on rebuilding teams are a luxury — and usually great trade chips — but no one is really sure where this club will sit in 2020 or even 2021 at this point.
Shoemaker, who made $3.5 million last year and took the ball five times before tearing his ACL, will get a raise of $700,000 to $4.2 million for 2020.
He’s expected to serve as the team’s No. 3 or No. 4 starter, health permitting.
The 33-year-old already starting throwing off a mound last fall and his left knee is expected to be 100 per cent when pitchers and catchers report to Dunedin on Feb. 13.
Drury, too, will get a raise, seeing his salary go from $1.3 million to $2.05 million for 2020.
After slashing just .218/.262/.380 last season, Drury, who has an option remaining, will have to make the club first, or he could be earning that salary at Triple-A Buffalo to start the year.
Giles and Shoemaker are both in their final year of team control and set to hit free agency at the end of the season, while Drury has two more years of team control remaining and is scheduled for free agency at the end of the 2022 campaign.