4 teams that could pay George Springer after surprising $10.3M projection

George Springer’s six-year, $150 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays has reached its end, but the 37-year-old may still have another deal waiting for him.

Spotrac estimates Springer’s market value at one year and approximately $10.3 million. That number may feel ambitious after his production slipped in 2026, particularly for a player whose defensive value has nearly disappeared. Still, a closer look at the market suggests it is not as far-fetched as it first appears.

If Springer wants to continue playing, the more important question may not be whether a team will pay him. It may be which team has a role readily available for an aging right-handed hitter who can still provide some offensive value.

Springer will turn 38 during the 2027 season, and a full-time return to the outfield no longer looks realistic. He appeared in only two games in left field in 2026 after playing 67 games in the outfield the year before. Age and a history of lower-body injuries have gradually pushed him into a mostly designated-hitter role.

That places even more pressure on his bat. In 2025, Springer delivered one of the best offensive seasons of his career, slashing .309/.399/.560 with a team-leading 32 home runs and a 166 wRC+. He also walked in 11.8 percent of his plate appearances and won a Silver Slugger Award.

The follow-up was in 2026 didn't quite meet those lofty numbers. Springer hit .249/.321/.405 with 15 home runs and a 105 wRC+, while his walk rate fell to 9.1 percent. But after taking a closer look, Springer basically gave the Blue Jays league average offense and that still has value in this market.

A club would not be paying Springer to rediscover his 2025 form. They would be betting on Springer giving them something between his last two seasons. On a one-year commitment, that is a manageable gamble for the right roster.

Why a $10.3 million salary is not out of the question for George Springer in 2027

Springer’s projected salary looks steep if it is viewed through the lens of his age and reduced defensive role. In the broader market, however, teams regularly pay around $10 million for imperfect players with some useful tools.

Some players who earned around that salary in 2026 included: Jazz Chisholm, Alec Bohm, and Adolis Garcia.

Chisholm, the 28-year-old Yankees second baseman, hit 19 home runs, slashed .231/.312/.399 with a wRC+ of 98, an offensive fWAR of 4.8 and a 10.5% walk rate. Bohm gave the Phillies 15 home runs, posted a wRC+ of 90 and slashed .249/.315/.383. Garcia, before his season ended in June, slashed .195/.270/.329 with a wRC+ of 63, and seven home runs.

The caveat is that these guys are at least eight years younger than Springer and all provide more defensive value than Springer, but the offensive numbers for the dollar value certainly sit around what Springer could provide. A club could use him primarily at DH, and pick favorable matchups that would put Springer at an advantage to do the most damage.

There were 10 teams that received less production from the DH spot than Toronto in 2026. Narrowing that group to clubs that also struggled to generate offence from their right-handed hitters produces four especially interesting possibilities: the Colorado Rockies, New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Angels.

Colorado Rockies

At some point, the Rockies have to show they are serious about playing baseball and avoiding a fifth consecutive 100-loss season would be a good place to start. Springer would not transform the franchise, but he would give the Rockies an experienced hitter, add a veteran voice to the clubhouse and provide a recognizable name on a short-term deal. Coors Field could also help his power numbers. Rockies right-handers hit .234/.304/.391 in 2026 with 76 home runs.

New York Mets

The Mets are the easiest team on this list to connect to Springer financially. After a 74-88 finish and a last-place showing in the NL East, they need to improve on their offense from the right side. New York’s right-handed bats combined for a .228/.289/.379 slash line and an 86 wRC+ in 2026. They can afford the projected salary more easily than the other clubs on this list. The hesitation is that the Mets can also least afford another unproductive veteran signing.

Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates are rarely mentioned as a destination for established free agents, but Springer would hardly qualify as a franchise-altering splash at this stage of his career. Pittsburgh’s lineup leans heavily to the left side, with Ryan O’Hearn, Spencer Horwitz, Jacob Gonzalez and Oneil Cruz among its left-handed options. Springer could help balance that group and share DH duties with a player such as O’Hearn, who hit only .217 with a .620 OPS against left-handed pitching in 2026.

Los Angeles Angels

The Angels also struggled to get consistent production from their right-handed hitters, who combined to slash .228/.307/.374 with a 92 wRC+ in 2026. The group did hit 122 home runs, the fourth-highest total in the majors, but the overall results remained below league average. Springer would not solve the Angels’ larger roster problems. He would, however, represent a more established offensive option than right-handed bench bats such as Kyren Paris and Bryce Teodosio.

A Blue Jays reunion appears unlikely. Toronto could bring Springer back as a right-handed bench bat, but the roster fit is difficult to justify at Spotrac’s projected price.

Anthony Santander and Addison Barger may both need time at DH as they work back from their arm issues. The Blue Jays could also use the position to create at-bats for a younger player such as Sean Keys, or to rotate catchers Alejandro Kirk and Brandon Valenzuela.

Keeping the DH spot flexible would likely be more valuable to Toronto than dedicating it to Springer again. Unless his market collapses and the price falls dramatically, the Blue Jays appear more likely to redirect that money elsewhere.

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