Travis Shaw Signs with the Blue Jays
Travis Shaw is officially a member of the Toronto Blue Jays. The agreement is a one-year, $4 million deal according to MLB insider Jon Morosi. Shaw comes from the Milwaukee Brewers, who have recently signed former Blue Jays first baseman Justin Smoak.
Source: Travis Shaw’s #BlueJays contract has a $4 million base salary. Value could climb to $4.675 million through incentives —$175k for 350 PA, and $125k each for 400/450/500/550 PA.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 22, 2019
Some Blue Jays fans may know Travis Shaw as a former member of the Boston Red Sox. In 2019, as a member of the Brewers, Shaw hit .157/.281/.270 in 86 games. Although it was an off-year for him, he is hoping to bounce back in 2020. According to his 162-game career average, he can produce 27 home runs and 85 RBI if healthy. Defensively, he can play first, second, and third base.
What This Means for the Blue Jays
Shaw will likely be filling in the void of Justin Smoak. He is coming into his 30-year-old season, and is excited for a new change of scenery. He was likely acquired because the front office doesn’t want to have Rowdy Tellez as an everyday first baseman. Similar to Smoak, Shaw and Tellez can rotate between first base and designated hitter as manager Charlie Montoyo sees fit.
It’s possible that the Blue Jays could trade Shaw to a contender in July if he performs well. The one-year deal is a great opportunity for him to bet on himself. If his performance does not satisfy the Blue Jays, they can easily trade him or buy him out. This contract is similar to Eric Sogard’s contract with Toronto last season, something that worked out with the Blue Jays. The Blue Jays traded Eric Sogard to the Tampa Bay Rays and helped them get a Wild Card spot.
Final Thoughts
This is a low-risk acquisition that has the possibility for both the Blue Jays and Travis Shaw to benefit them in the long run. Hopefully, Shaw can get his career back on track, and the Blue Jays will fill the void for Justin Smoak.
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