The largest contract in Toronto Blue Jays history has become a burden. In January 2021, the team signed former World Series MVP George Springer to a six-year, $150 million deal, eclipsing the previous record set by Vernon Wells in 2006 with his seven-year, $126 million contract. Wells had a lackluster .267/.321/.450 batting line during his inconsistent four seasons with the team, and it was considered a significant relief when Alex Anthopoulos managed to offload the final years of his deal to the Los Angeles Angels. Now, four seasons into Springer’s tenure, his numbers stand at .251/.328/.436—similar to Wells’ performance when his contract was deemed one of the worst in baseball.
As part of Blue Jays Nation’s annual Player Review series, we reflect on George Springer’s 2024 season.
George Springer in 2024…
– Plate Appearances: 614
– Batting Average: .220
– On-Base Percentage: .303
– Slugging Percentage: .371
– Home Runs: 19
– Strikeouts: 115
– Walks: 60
– FanGraphs WAR: 1.2
– Salary: $24,166,667
After finishing just below average with 4.60 runs per game in 2023, the Blue Jays hoped internal improvements from four players would lead to a better offensive performance. However, in 2024, the team regressed further, finishing 23rd in the league with 4.14 runs scored per game.
Springer, who had performed well in his first two seasons with the team, saw his numbers decline in 2023, ending with a .258/.327/.405 line and 21 home runs over 683 plate appearances. The 2024 season began positively for him, hitting home runs in the first two games against the Tampa Bay Rays, but he managed only three homers by the end of April.
By mid-May, his on-base plus slugging percentage dipped below .600, prompting the Blue Jays to move him down in the lineup. This shift led to a brief resurgence, as he posted a .250 average and .797 OPS with eight home runs and nine doubles until the All-Star break.
However, following the All-Star Game, Springer struggled, finishing August with a .165 batting average and .607 OPS, and he started only 17 games in September as the team prioritized giving prospects playing time after the trade deadline.
At the end of the season, Springer recorded career lows in batting average (.220), on-base percentage (.303), and slugging percentage (.371). Despite his struggles at the plate, he led the team with 16 stolen bases and provided solid defense in right field. The Blue Jays will need to approach the offseason without the expectation that Springer can return to being a top-of-the-order hitter in 2025. With his 2024 performance falling short of expectations, finding a new leadoff hitter should be a priority for Toronto this winter.
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