Blue Jays: Update on players avoiding arbitration

An update on several Toronto Blue Jays avoiding arbitration, including Marcus Stroman, Randal Grichuk, Aaron Sanchez, Kevin Pillar, and more.

Kevin Pillar

Outfielder Kevin Pillar and the Jays avoided arbitration by settling at $5.8 million on a one-year contract, per Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet. Previously, it had been suggested by MLB Trade Rumors that Pillar would make $5.3 million in arbitration.

Aaron Sanchez

Aaron Sanchez and the Jays also avoid arbitration by settling at $3.9 million, according to Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun. Sanchez, like Pillar, did slightly better than MLBTR’s estimates projected, earning $100,000 more than the projections.

Devon Travis

Devon Travis avoided arbitration with the team as well, agreeing on a one-year, $1.925 million contract, according to Jamie Campbell of Sportsnet. Travis, 27, was projected by MLBTR to earn $2.4 million.

Brandon Drury

Utilityman Brandon Drury will, according to Nicholson-Smith, be earning $1.3 million in 2019, narrowly undercutting MLBTR’s $1.4 million projection.

Ken Giles

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Reliever Ken Giles will also, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, be avoiding arbitration with the Blue Jays, signing on for $6.3 million. MLBTR had him earning a more inflated $6.6 million in his second year of arbitration eligibility.

Marcus Stroman

In perhaps the move surprising news of the day, the Jays avoided arbitration with Marcus Stroman, who previously went to trial in 2017. As Shi Davidi of Sportsnet reports, Stroman will be earning  $7.4 million in 2019, exceeding the $7.2 million projection.

Randal Grichuk

Outfielder Randal Grichuk is set to earn $5 million, per Davidi. Grichuk, who turned 27 in August, was projected by MLBTR to earn $4.8 million in his second year of arbitration.

Ryan Tepera (Did Not Sign)

Reliever Ryan Tepera is the only arbitration-eligible player who did not sign, the team confirmed shortly after both Davidi and Nicholson-Smith reported it. Tepera, 31, was projected to earn $1.7 million in 2019. Tepera’s relief colleague, Joe Biagini, also settled with the Blue Jays early Friday.