Jays avoid arbitration with Matt Chapman, Teoscar Hernandez

DUNEDIN, FLA.—When the Blue Jays traded for third baseman Matt Chapman final week, they knew they have been going to have him for at the least the subsequent two years. Now they know what he’s going to value them.

Chapman and the Jays beat Tuesday’s deadline to alternate arbitration numbers, in response to studies, by agreeing to a two-year contract price $25 million (U.S.). Meaning no arbitration listening to this 12 months and no want to fret about it subsequent 12 months, both. The Jays don’t acquire any years of management with this contract, and Chapman doesn’t lose any.

The 28-year-old was set to earn someplace within the neighbourhood of $9.5 million this season by arbitration, with a increase due subsequent season if he has his typical large defence/stable energy sort of 12 months.

Signing this contract now ensures Chapman that wholesome increase, even when he doesn’t bounce again from a 2021 season by which his OPS declined for a 3rd straight 12 months.

Chapman’s reward for the brand new contract was to get spiked by Ender Inciarte because the Yankees’ base runner was caught stealing third base within the high of the fourth inning. He left the sport bleeding from his left forearm, however didn’t require any stitches.

Teoscar Hernandez, who’s day-to-day with a sore wrist suffered diving for a ball in observe final week, additionally averted arbitration. In accordance with studies, the outfielder, who slugged 32 house runs final season and led the workforce with 116 RBIs, agreed to a one-year contract price $10.65 million.

Press one for fastball

Within the sixth inning of Tuesday’s 9-2 win over the Bronx Bombers, Jays’ catcher Danny Jansen didn’t put any indicators down for pitcher Trevor Richards.

As a substitute, Jansen wore a wristband onto which he may press a button that despatched a sign to an earpiece Richards was sporting, by which the pitcher heard which pitch to throw.

“It’s only a bizarre factor,” stated Jansen of the brand new expertise. “I feel utilizing it right this moment, I didn’t thoughts it far more than I assumed I might. At first, I used to be sort of skeptical about it. It’s sort of an enormous change, however there have been undoubtedly some advantages to it.”

One of many greater issues to get used to is all the additional time the pitcher has, since he can hear the pitch choice even earlier than the batter steps into the field.

“(Pitchers are) so used to wanting on the indicators and having focus there as a substitute of already figuring out it and (not having to) look there,” defined Jansen. “Then it’s simply sort of wanting … anyplace … as a substitute of honing in on the fingers and the indicators.”

Richards tried to compensate for that by nonetheless wanting in at Jansen and nodding his head as if the catcher was placing an indication down.

The pitch name shouldn’t be solely audible within the pitcher’s ear, however within the dugout, as effectively.

“That’s humorous, as a result of you possibly can all the time say ‘No, no, no, don’t throw that pitch,’” joked supervisor Charlie Montoyo after the sport.

Springer in his step

Leadoff man George Springer made his spring debut Tuesday, going 2-for-3 with an opposite-field single and an infield single, and reaching on an error.

“The primary day was simply enjoyable,” stated Springer after the sport. “It’s thrilling, it’s superior to be again on the market.”

The second-year Blue Jay hopes to keep away from a repeat of the indirect and quadriceps accidents that triggered him to overlook over half of final season.

“I’m attempting to be smarter typically,” defined Springer. “Understanding my physique, figuring out when to make use of 100 per cent (effort) and when to not. I don’t know if that’s injury-related or it’s simply me hopefully being smarter, however simply understanding (when to) simply decelerate. Play 100 per cent however be sensible.”

Relentless

Dealing with Yankee lefty Jordan Montgomery — at present pencilled in as New York’s second starter behind ace Gerrit Cole — the Jays’ common lineup, lacking solely Hernandez, set to work early.

Springer, Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. led off the sport with three straight singles, then Lourdes Gurriel Jr. doubled to proper subject. Montgomery didn’t file his first out till his twenty eighth pitch of the sport, and wanted a terrific operating seize by left fielder Ender Inciarte on a Chapman line drive headed for the hole.

Montgomery left the sport after Chapman’s sacrifice fly, however got here again within the second to surrender one other hit to every of Springer and Guerrero. In all, the southpaw allowed three runs on six hits and a stroll whereas recording solely three outs.

Mike Wilner is a Toronto-based baseball columnist for the Star and host of the baseball podcast “Deep Left Subject.” Comply with him on Twitter: @wilnerness