Toronto Blue Jays in tough to bring back Marcus Semien and Robbie Ray
The Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly offered Marcus Semien a contract extension and will look to do the same with Robbie Ray.
Stop if you’ve heard this one before. The Toronto Blue Jays have some great players that are heading toward free agency and they have made attempts to offer them new contracts.
The challenge the Blue Jays are currently dealing with is trying to get ahead of the competition by trying to lock up Marcus Semien and Robbie Ray. As Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported, Semien has already been offered a new deal but Toronto hasn’t been successful in putting pen to paper while Ray is going to be handled at the end of the season.
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There is no doubting the impact both Semien and Ray have had on the Blue Jays this season especially considering they bet on themselves with one-year deals. Semien has provided stability at second base with his bat and glove while Ray is a no-doubt candidate for the AL Cy Young trophy.
Both will have plenty of suitors if they reach free agency which is probably why Toronto is making it a point to reach out early and gauge what it might take to get a deal done.
At the same time, the Blue Jays have to navigate this situation carefully and delicately.
Toronto Blue Jays need to remain disciplined with contracts offers for Semien, Ray
It shouldn’t be disappointing to see that Semien didn’t agree to the Blue Jays offer. At this point, it doesn’t make sense for Semien or Ray to sign new deals because it’s tough to say whether they are leaving money on the table. It’s certainly a risk but given their performances, both should be confident in what the market can provide them.
However, as Mark Polishuk of MLB Trade Rumors writes, Semien is represented by the Wasserman Agency who recently negotiated an extension for Brandon Crawford in season. However, an approach with one player’s contract isn’t always going to be the same for another especially given the season Semien is having.
The Blue Jays have slowly started to shed the reputation that some had about them not being willing to spend in free agency. Look no further than the deals for George Springer and Hyun Jin Ryu. At this rate, now is the time for Toronto to take advantage of their younger players not needing pay raises for the next few seasons and keep this window open as long as possible.
They’ll just need to be prepared for an expensive off-season if they are committed to bringing both Semien and Ray back into the fold.
Related Story. What would it cost to re-sign Robbie Ray?. light
What do you think about the Blue Jays offering Semien a new deal? Do you think he will re-sign? Are you concerned about Ray hitting the open market? Let us know in the comments below.