Another look at Chad Green's unique option decisions the Blue Jays face

Free agent-to-be Chad Green is coming off a shortened season for the Blue Jays in which he made just 12 appearances post-Tommy John surgery. The right-hander was brought aboard by Toronto to essentially be a "built-in trade deadline acquisition" in that he was pegged to make his organizational debut some time around the deadline.

Sure enough, the longtime New York Yankee made his Blue Jays debut on Sept 1 and while it didn't start off great, he turned himself into a solid option for the Jays. All told, he made 12 appearances and posted a 5.25 ERA with a 2.67 FIP. The ERA was massively inflated by a pair of outings in which he gave up multiple earned runs. As far as the eye test goes, though? He passed with flying colors.

Green finds his name on the list of pending free agents for the Blue Jays, but it's much more complicated than that. At the time of his signing, it was announced that his contract came with a slew of different options, so here's the best breakdown we can find to explain it all.

To recap, the Blue Jays could pick up their team option on Green, but that would turn his contract into a longer one than they'd likely be comfortable with. In that scenario, he'd be under contract through the 2026 season.

Should they decline their team option, Green would then receive an option of his own. Should he pick it up, he'll return to the Blue Jays in 2024 with a $6.5M salary. If he declines it, the Jays receive a two-year team option. From there, it's simple; they decline it, he's a free agent. They pick it up, he's a Jay through 2025.

While this is a relatively confusing string to follow here, the likeliest outcome feels like it'll see the Blue Jays pick up their two-year team option on him. Green has a ton of valuable experience, has historically been a well-liked figure in the clubhouse and pitched well this past season; he has earned another go-round with the Jays. If they want to go a safer route, the club could always allow him to hit free agency and re-sign him to a low cost one-year contract.