Toronto Blue Jays Avoid Arbitration on Three Players
The Toronto Blue Jays avoid arbitration with reliever Ken Giles, starter Matt Shoemaker, and infielder Brandon Drury. This according to themselves on Twitter.
OFFICIAL: We've agreed to 2020 contracts with RHP Ken Giles, RHP Matt Shoemaker and INF Brandon Drury – avoiding arbitration.
Welcome back! pic.twitter.com/dydC3AKgv7
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) January 10, 2020
Ken Giles
Ken Giles has established himself in the closer position upon being traded to Toronto in July 2018. Giles will earn $9.6 million as a member of the 2020 Toronto Blue Jays. In 2019, Giles produced an ERA of 1.87, a WHIP of 1.000, 14.1 Strikeouts per 9 innings and 83 punchouts in 53 innings pitched with the Blue Jays. Although there were some problems with his elbow last season, the 27 year old hopes to remain healthy in 2020. Giles will become a free agent following the 2020 season, hopefully, the Blue Jays can re-sign him.
Brandon Drury
Brandon Drury will earn $2.05 million with the Blue Jays in 2020. In 120 games Drury went .218/.262/.380 with 15 Home Runs and 41 RBIs. Although Drury is classified as an infielder, he played 7 different defensive positions in 2019. Drury will head into the 2020 season as a 27-year-old who won’t be a free agent until 2023. Drury came over from the New York Yankees in 2018 following a trade for starting pitcher J.A. Happ.
Matt Shoemaker
In addition to Brandon Drury and Ken Giles, Matt Shoemaker also avoided arbitration with the Toronto Blue Jays. Instead, Shoemaker will make $4.2 million as a starting pitcher. In 2019, Matt Shoemaker was off to a hot start but suffered a season-ending ACL injury while pitching against the Oakland Athletics. Shoemaker will play his 33-year-old season with the Blue Jays and become a free agent following this season. Shoemaker has missed parts of the past three seasons injured, so he hopes that 2020 will be injury-free.
Final Thoughts
The Toronto Blue Jays have few veteran players that still need to go through arbitration. While it’s good to avoid arbitration, the Blue Jays perhaps gave Giles more money in the hopes he re-signs with the Blue Jays after this season. They believe Drury will remain a great option as a utility player, and Shoemaker will remain a viable option in the 2020 rotation.
