Blue Jays avoid arbitration with Sanchez and Travis

After they settled with Josh Donaldson to avoid arbitration the Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly avoided arbitration with both Aaron Sanchez and Devon Travis.

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Blue Jays settled the case with Aaron Sanchez for $2.7 million and avoided arbitration. The 2016 AL ERA leader was projected to earn $1.9 million in 2018 after a disappointing 2017 season and the lingering blister issues. He made just 8 starts, pitching 36 innings with a 4.25 ERA.

There’s no doubt a healthy Sanchez in 2018 would give a tremendous boost to the team and increase the chances of competing in the AL East and be at the very least in the wild card race. His 2016 all-star season showed he has the potential to be a CY Young winner with a full season of work and can convert the Jays rotation from being a solid one to one of the best in baseball with Marcus Stroman, JA Happ and Marco Estrada along.

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Minutes after the Aaron Sanchez settlement was reported, Shi Davidi reported the Blue Jays settlement with second baseman Devon Travis for $1.45 million. Like Aaron Sanchez, Devon Travis suffered from injuries in 2018, specifically the knee, which stopped him on the 6th of June when he was placed on the disabled list after his amazing month of May and would not come back to play later in 2017.

Devon Travis has shown that when healthy, he’s a complete hitter with some pop, hitting all over the field. The only problem for Travis has been his health which hasn’t allowed him to perform on a daily basis and show his full potential. Realistically, if Travis plays more than 100 games in 2018 the Blue Jays would probably be more than content, especially considering the depth in the infield has been vastly improved with the off-season acquisitions of Aledmys Diaz and Yangervis Solarte.

Next: Blue Jays avoid arbitration with Josh Donaldson

With Sanchez and Travis now settled, the only players that the Blue Jays haven’t settled with on a deal to avoid arbitration are closer Roberto Osuna, center fielder Kevin Pillar, reliever Dominic Leone, and Marcus Stroman.