Over the past five years, the Toronto Blue Jays have aggressively sought to become a World Series contender, though not all their strategies have panned out.
At times, they have missed out on key targets, such as when they pursued superstar Shohei Ohtani last winter, only for him to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers instead. The Blue Jays later admitted they lacked a backup plan.
Conversely, there have been instances where they successfully acquired players, but things didn’t go as hoped. Right fielder George Springer, who joined Toronto from the Houston Astros on a six-year, $150 million contract, is a prime example. With two years left on his deal, his contract is starting to feel like a lost investment. Recently, Zach Pressnell from FanSided suggested the Blue Jays should trade Springer, even if it means absorbing a large portion of his contract.
Pressnell pointed out that Springer, 35, has struggled significantly in the last two seasons, especially in 2024, with a disappointing slash line of .220/.303/.371 and just 19 home runs last season. He emphasized that the team needs to find a way to remove him from the roster, arguing that they shouldn’t continue to allocate a roster spot to someone with an OPS below .700.
While having experienced veterans is valuable, Springer’s declining performance is hard to overlook. His OPS+ has dropped from 141 in 2021 to 92 this season, and he has had stretches where he’s ranked as the worst qualified hitter in the league. Due to his hefty contract, the Blue Jays have consistently included him in the starting lineup.
If there’s any way for the Blue Jays to recover some value for Springer without fully absorbing his contract, it would be worth exploring. However, finding attractive offers for him may prove challenging.
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