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The Blue Jays signed A.J. Cole to a minor league contract with a spring invite. They did the same last year. He had a very good spring training and made the team when the season started in July.
He had a good season, tiring near the end, but he finished with a 3.09 ERA in 24 games. He had 9 walks, 3 home runs, and 20 strikeouts in 23.1 innings.
He’ll get $1 million if he makes the team with $200,000 in incentives. I’d imagine there is an opt-out clause if he doesn’t make the team.
The Toronto #BlueJays, who non-tendered reliever A.J. Cole last month, bring back by signing him to minor-league deal worth $1 million if he makes their major-league team with $200,00 in incentives.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 9, 2021
And the team released Walter Lockett so he can sign with the Doosan Bears. The Jays picked him up in December off waivers from the Mariners. He signed for $1 million, the Jays will get $200,000 for his rights.
Apparently, the Jays were runners up in the Lindor sweepstakes:
My opinion: This approach would only seem to make sense if Cleveland is serious about reinvesting a significant amount of the Lindor/Carrasco trade $$$ savings on talent that can help in 2021.
— Anthony Castrovince (@castrovince) January 8, 2021
I would think the ‘higher ceiling’ would be in the eye of the beholder. It would be interesting to know what the Jays’ offer was. I’m sure Cleveland won’t be reinvesting the savings.