Blue Jays already feuding with Scott Boras over Sanchez

Earlier in the offseason, Blue Jays RHP Aaron Sanchez left West Coast Sports Management for Scott Boras of the Boras Corporation. Already, there is a little drama in the relationship between Sanchez, Boras and the Toronto Blue Jays front office.

Late Wednesday night, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reported Scott Boras’ displeasure with the Blue Jays brass. This came after the news that the Blue Jays renewed Aaron Sanchez’s contract to a major-league minimum for the 2017 season.

Before this news was released, it was safe to assume that Sanchez was not going to sign an early extension to buy out arbitration years and possible free agent years as well, but this little fiasco only lessens the likelihood.

“Some teams have very low payment standards but they say if you renew we understand, but you still keep the money we’re giving you. Toronto is so rigid, they not only have a very antiquated or substandard policy compared to the other teams for extraordinary performance, but if you don’t accept what that low standard is, they then have the poison pill of saying, you get paid the minimum. It’s the harshest treatment in baseball that any club could provide for a player. That’s why few teams have such a policy.” More from Toronto Blue Jays NewsMatt Chapman has been exactly what the Blue Jays neededBlue Jays: The goalposts are moving in the right directionSingle-A Dunedin Blue Jays advance to the Championship SeriesBlue Jays: Comparisons for Alek Manoah’s Second SeasonBlue Jays: Adam Cimber, the unlikely decision King

In the past, Scott Boras hasn’t had great things to say about the Blue Jays, as he has voiced his opinion about the Paul Beeston, Alex Anthopoulos policy of not offering more than a 5-year contract to free agents. But the fact that this situation involves the ace of the Blue Jays and one of the most dominate arms in the American League, makes this situation even worse for Toronto.

The last time the Blue Jays had a true ace it was Roy Halladay, and if Sanchez is not yet considered a “true ace”, he will be soon. It is really important for the Jays to have a strong relationship with Boras, as he really takes control of his clients and is the best in the business at getting his players paid.

In 2016, Sanchez’s first full season as a starter in Toronto, he was dominating as the all-star went 15-2 with a 3.00 ERA in 192.0 innings pitched, finishing seventh in Cy Young voting. Sanchez handled getting sent down to the minors late in the season and not getting the major league salary for those 10 days because of that, with true class.

It would have been nice to see the right-hander get more than a major league minimum, but it was also his first full season as a starting pitcher and his contract is not too far out of the price range to comparable pitchers.

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It was not good news for Jays fans when they found out the best agent in baseball was representing Sanchez. Now hearing Boras go public with his feelings on the contract renewal situation is even worse news for the Blue Jays long term future with the Californian born right-hander.