Chris Colabello outrighted as Blue Jays tender contracts to four players

On the final day major league teams could tender contracts to their arbitration-eligible players, Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi reports that the Toronto Blue Jays will retain control of Darwin Barney, Ezequiel Carrera, Aaron Loup, and Marcus Stroman. In unrelated moves, the Jays have removed Chris Colabello and Andy Burns from the 40-man roster after both of them passed through waivers.

The four tendered players and the club will have until mid-January to agree to a salary figure for 2017 (or to sign a multi-year deal). After that, the two sides will have to submit salary asks and offers to an arbitration panel. Basically, all four players remain under Blue Jays control—the only question remaining is how much they will be paid in 2017.

MLB Trade Rumors project a $1.2-million settlement for Carrera and Loup, a $1.6-million figure for Barney, and $3.5-million for Stroman. Click the players’ names to read Matt W’s analysis of the reasons behind the tenders. I don’t think you need him to explain why they chose to retain Marcus Stroman.

The outrighted Burns has no choice but to accept his assignment to the minor leagues, but Colabello has the right to elect free agency as this is his second career outright.

The 33-year-old Colabello had a breakout season in 2015 but struggled coming out of the gate this season before being suspended for 80 games after he was tested positive for the banned substance dehydrochlormethyltestosterone. He continued his poor play after his return from suspension, hitting a meagre .180/.248/.288 with the triple-A Bisons.

Colabello is likely to elect to become a free agent to test out the market for a major league contract rather than to settle to remain in the Jays’ minor league system—at least at this point in the offseason.

Minor Leaguer