Blue Jays Quick Hits: Freddy Galvis, Marco Estrada, and more

Blue Jays news and notes from January 31, 2019, including the rumoured market of the team’s newest infielder, and a message from former friend Marco Estrada.

Galvis “Drew Interest From 12 Teams”

Prior to signing with the Blue Jays earlier this week, shortstop Freddy Galvis had caught the eye of “about 12 teams” earlier this winter, reports Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet. George A. King III of the New York Post had previously reported that the Pittsburgh Pirates had “big interest in signing him”.

Galvis, 29, will earn $4 million in 2019 and could earn an additional $5.5 million if his 2020 club option is picked up. The option year comes with a $1 million buyout, so he’s guaranteed $5 million.

Blue Jays “Liked Galvis Last Off-Season”

Nicholson-Smith also notes on Twitter that the Blue Jays “liked” Galvis last offseason, but instead opted to trade for infielders Aledmys Diaz and Yangervis Solarte, neither of whom are still on the roster.

Galvis was traded from the Phillies to the Padres on December 15, 2017, for pitcher Enyel De Los Santos, who spent the 2018 season with the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs of the International League.

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Jarrod Saltalamacchia Retires

Veteran catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who spent the first half of the 2019 season with the Blue Jays, has reportedly retired from baseball after 12 years in the bigs, according to Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic.

In 895 major league contests, “Salty” hit 110 home runs, drove in 381 and notched 161 doubles, six triples and five stolen bases to go along with a career .715 OPS.

Estrada: “I’m going to miss everything about Toronto”

Marco Estrada, who recently signed a one-year contract with the Oakland Athletics, told Blue Jays fans (through NSR Media’s Barry Davis) that he will “miss everything about Toronto”, going on to add that the city is his family’s “second home”.

Estrada pitched over 600 innings in a Blue Jays uniform, racking up 39 wins and 575 strikeouts in 118 starts spread across four seasons.