It was reported earlier this afternoon that Matt Stairs signed a 2-year, $3.5 million contract with the Blue Jays. Time to deal with some of the questions arising from this news.
I'm relatively happy with this news. I like Stairs, both as a person and as a ballplayer. I like what he brings to the table offensively, even if we can't expect a repeat of 2007, and I like what he brings as a clubhouse leader and motivator. Anybody who witnessed him during the A-Rod incident can see how much he cares for his teammates. He's a straight talker, a fun-loving guy and watching him during this summer, when he was on that great hot streak, was one of the high points of the season. I read a couple of articles on his leadership of the Canadian team at the World Baseball Classic and to see him as part of that team in red celebrating a victory of the US was a highlight of 2006.
The money is reasonable. I expected him to get about $4 million over 2 years and he's making just under that, although he's got a $1.25 million signing bonus. This amount of money is small enough that the Jays can cut bait Stairs should something unforeseen happen and the amount is small enough that even if he's overpaid compared to his production, it won't be by very much.
The biggest issue with this resigning is how it affects the roster construction. With Stairs back in the fold it seems unlikely that the Jays will carry both Johnson and Lind. Do the Jays send Lind back to Triple-A? Does he need more seasoning? Do you give Reed a mulligan on last year and go into this year with him and Stairs platooning in left? Do you give Reed one last year before giving Lind the job in 2009? Should the Jays save money and cut bait on Johnson and try to find another left-fielder on the free agent market? An even bigger question, has Lind lost his shine, as Nate Silver seems to believe when he says, that Lind is a "sunken prospect" who will "[battle] to be league-average"? Does the signing of Stairs indicate that perhaps JP is no longer as confident in Lind's ability as he used to be?
Bauxites, time to weigh in on the Matt Stairs signing, what it means for Lind and how to deal with left field.
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20071102153624797