A few talented ballplayers have recently received enormous contracts. Jaws hit the floor as terms reached 10 years or more and the total salaries were astronomical. It’s fantastic and well-deserved for those lucky athletes, but it also made me cringe.
It’s not money or giant risk that created the uncomfortable feeling; rather, the predictable reaction from #JaysTwitter:
WHY HAVEN’T THEY SIGNED VLADDY AND BO TO LONG-TERM EXTENSIONS????!!!! WHAT’S TAKING SO LONG????!!!! WHAT’S THE HOLDUP????!!!! THIS SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED YESTERDAY!!!! WE’RE GOING TO LOSE THEM TO FREE AGENCY!!!! OUR FRONT OFFICE IS AN EMBARRASSMENT!!!! ROGERS HAS LOTS OF MONEY!!! THEY ARE CHEAP BASTARDS!!!
Enough.
Thank all brands of heaven the front office and Bo’s representatives avoided an arbitration hearing by agreeing on a contract covering the next three seasons. Really didn’t want to see any “the hearing will sour Bo’s relationship with the team” takes. You try to block all of them, but there are always a few that slip through.
Do I want Vladdy and Bo in Jays uniforms forever? Absolutely! Would it be a huge L if they both sign elsewhere? Absolutely!
But we can’t waste our time worrying about this. It’s a useless exercise.
The young studs will either sign long-term deals or they won’t. Regardless, we have no control over that outcome. Our feelings are weightless. The Jays will make an offer while Vladdy/Bo will decide what’s best for Vladdy/Bo.
So, why stress over something that has nothing to do with us fans? All this concern is harmful and not worth it. Pray and demand as much as you want, it won’t make a difference.
Some of the anxiety is reasonable when other teams are giving out these extra large contracts. You might be screaming “WHY NOT US?” at this very moment.
No screaming on my end because I don’t care about what other teams are doing. Deals got done and bags of money were handed out. Good for them! Kudos to all involved! My only concern is what the Jays are doing.
The last thing any of us want is something hastily put together. Besides, it doesn’t matter when the Jays arrive at the big dance, as long as they leave the event with the top prize.
Rather than worry about the future, I am choosing to enjoy Vladdy and Bo in the present. The Blue Jays have two incredibly talented ball players currently on the books until the end of the 2025 season. That’s three seasons of these athletes in the prime of their careers! We are so lucky and should never take them or anything they do for granted.
Enjoy them! Savour them! Don’t concern yourself about their free agency in the far distance!
Hopefully, a World Series title is captured before the end of 2025. That would soften the blow if one or both choose to part ways with the Jays.
I would love for Vladdy and Bo to be Jays until they’re old and grey. However, it’s foolish to assume that will automatically happen. They and they alone decide what happens three seasons from now.
It would also be nauseating – for example – if both choose to wear Yankee pinstripes. But at this very moment, I am not going to worry about that or lose any sleep.
I don’t get enough sleep anyway.
ER
PS: Make sure to download your copy of SkyDome Syllables, a free e-book about the 2022 Blue Jays.
Definitely Not JaysTalk 