Lind Your Contract Extension
Adam Lind is here to stay for at least another four more years.
Yesterday the Blue Jays locked up Lind long term for the next four seasons at $18 million dollars, which could potentially turn into a seven year $40.5 million dollar contract.
If Lind rides out that contract to the very end, he would enter free agency following the 2016 season at 33 years old with approximately nine seasons of service time.
ADVERTISEMENT
The contract that folks are using as a benchmark for Lind’s deal is the contract the Orioles handed over to Nick Markakis: six years and $66 million dollars, with only one club option as opposed to the Blue Jays three club options for Lind.
As far as I’m concerned, it’s like comparing apples and oranges with these two contracts. Narkakis is more valuable in the field, and all indications point to Lind being used as a DH for the rest of his career.
That’s basically the only qualm I have with this contract – if Lind is not used as one of the corner outfielders, he essentially turns into a $5 million dollar a year designated hitter.
If the Blue Jays are going to contend in the next five years, it’s important that they lock up their young starts like Adam Lind. Slowly but surely, the pieces are starting to fall into place.
The only payroll commitments for the Blue Jays after the 2010 season belong to Vernon Wells, Aaron Hill, John McDonald, and now Adam Lind.
I want to be extremely excited about this contract extension, but I also remember feeling the same way just prior to the Home Opener in 2008 when the Blue Jays announced they had signed Alex Rios to a seven year $69 million dollar contract extension.
Then again, if things don’t pan out with Adam Lind, at least the Blue Jays have the option of cutting ties with him following the 2013 season. That’s an option the Blue Jays probably wish they had with Vernon Wells, who will still be cashing in an additional $21 million dollars a season from 2012 to 2014.
Where’s that Hot Tub Time Machine when you need one?
I think it's a good deal for Toronto. Very team friendly. We'll have to wait until a few years into the deal to know whether it's a steal or not, but at the very least I think the Jays will get their moneys worth.
You're right Mattt, it will probably be at least 2-3 years before we find out if it was a good contract. I'm always leery of signing young guys to long-term deals after they put up a career year because you can never be assured that they will ever reach those numbers again.