DECEMBER 18: This deal is now official.
It includes equal $12MM salaries, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet reports (Twitter links). There are some minor award-based incentives included as well.
DECEMBER 11: The Blue Jays have agreed to a deal with free-agent right-hander Tanner Roark, Ben Nicholson-Smith and Shi Davidi of Sportsnet report. It’s a two-year, $24MM accord, per Jon Heyman of MLB Network. Roark is a client of Matt Colleran.
This is a better payday than expected for Roark, who MLBTR predicted Toronto would sign to a two-year, $18MM contract at the outset of the offseason. Nevertheless, if Roark’s history is any indication, he should give the Blue Jays some much-needed stability in their rotation. The rebuilding club, whose starting staff looked like an enormous weakness entering the winter, has shown some level of interest in just about every free-agent rotation piece. The Blue Jays have added two so far between Roark and fellow righty Chase Anderson, whom they acquired in a trade with the Brewers, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Toronto pick up yet another notable starter before the offseason’s out.
The 33-year-old Roark will head north after dividing the first seven seasons of his career among Washington, Cincinnati and Oakland. Roark produced sub-3.00 ERA results three times as a member of the Nationals toward the beginning of his career, but he has settled into more of a mid- to back-end type in recent seasons. Roark notched an ERA and a FIP somewhere in the 4.00s in each of the previous three seasons, also totaling 160-plus innings in all of those years.
Most recently, Roark fired 165 1/3 frames between the Reds and Athletics in 2019, when he posted a 4.35 ERA/4.67 FIP with a career-best 8.6 K/9 against 2.78 BB/9, though he did manage a personal-worst groundball rate of 36.2 percent. The latter figure helped lead to a career-worst 15.5 percent home run-to-fly ball rate, but Roark was hardly alone in giving up more long balls than ever during a homer-happy year across the majors.
The Blue Jays are no doubt hopeful Roark’s HR/FB rate will return closer to his lifetime mark of 11.3 percent going forward. Regardless, he’s now the most accomplished starter on a starting staff that bid adieu to Marcus Stroman and Aaron Sanchez in trades over the summer. Among Jays holdovers, only the relatively unproven Jacob Waguespack and Trent Thornton piled up 70 or more innings as starters in 2019.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
cool
Unexpected
Huh? I think this was one of the more heavily predicted signings
Good by the Blue Jays.
Nice…
Good for him, appreciated his work in Cincy last year…
lindblom to Brewers
wow that’s a decent payday. better than either Rangers deal though.
oh wait, didnt are that it was 12 and not 9. dont feel the same way now.
even little moves like this is aggravating being a red sox fan who have done NOTHING, they havent even gotten rid of anyone yet, i dont care if they sign an 18 year old who wont crack the team for 4 years, i just wish they would atleast sign or dump some salary, every team is getting better little by little
It’s been aggravating for Reds fans too. They blow all this smoke and here we are, tapping the MLBTR app 118 times a day looking for progress…
You guys signed Moose
I know the winter meetings are going on, but it’s still only December. Chill.
Come on, the Sox got rid of Sandy Leon (LOL).
I’m guessing they won’t do much at all until they can find a team who will take JBJ, Price and/or Eovaldi off their hands. This was certainly discussed and agreed to by owners and Bloom before the winter meetings started. I’m sure the Yankees signing of Cole cemented the owners’ “request” to get below the luxury tax limit of $208M, so the Sox are going to remain very quiet until they figure out some way to reduce their payroll burden for 2020.
Was hoping they would pick up either Keuchel or Ryu but atleast it’s something.
2 years $24 million…5:55pm ET.
Waste!
Roark for 1 year is fine. Two for $24-mil is idiotic. If this is what the Blue Jays meant by spending they should have kept quiet, used the “trust the process” mantra and let Zeuch or Waguespack get detonated for a year. Roark is a 4th or 5th starter, leaning closer to 5th.
Sorry, I’ll wait for “Jays fans” to lecture me on this great signing and the excellent extension of Grichuk.
I’d say Grichuk’s contract was probably fair in 2019. $7mil for what he provided isn’t outlandish. He will have to improve going forward to earn his pay.
The years. In two years fans will say “I can’t believe he has two MORE years after this”.
That’s most certainly a real scenario. Although he is trending up and not down. 2019 was better than 2018 so perhaps he’s going to continue to progress. Big maybe.
Who’s trending up
He’s awful
Nah, you’re bang on with Roark. Utterly pointless signing, just adds another #4/5 starter to the pile of drek that already here. Move him from the NL East to AL East and he’ll get murdered.
In a vacuum it’s fine but there needs to be a signing to raise the ceiling at some point. Keep raising the floor leads to middling returns that aren’t good enough for playoffs and aren’t bad enough for good draft picks.
Plus Wacha, who’s better, got way less than Roark. Maybe Roark’s agent deserves Cooperstown consideration?
Wacha is not better than Roark and it’s not even close really.
Jays need innings in the rotation he gives them innings gives the pitchers a year or possibly two to mature to fill in. Yes the second year may be rough but he provides stability in its wise for a rotation that needs innings
can’t agree more. Roark is garbage. I would have rather had Gio Gonzalez if they were going to cheap out and he would have cost less.
They can’t attract, and/or don’t usually outspend big clubs for for free agents. Not tying up huge sums of money right now is quite important with a super young club, with more prospects ta on the cusp, it was most likely the best value they could get without tying up huge sums of money. Of course I’d like something more splashy, but they do have two potential aces coming in Pearson, and Woods-Richardson.
The problem is you’ve penciled SWR and Pearson as aces. They might not even end up being number 3 pitchers let alone aces.
If our young core of players do play fantastic, how are we going to convince a quality starting pitcher to come here when we don’t have a single quality starter. If we had signed Ryu for 4 years, we at least would have had one decent starter.
Some points:
1) Roark was projected by this site to get two years, not one
2) We all knew the Jays would have to overpay to get a starting pitcher
3) Rogers can easily afford 2Y/$24M
4) It’s not your money
5) The Jays had only two starters on the roster who had been built up to throw 175 innings in 2020: Anderson and Thornton
6) Roark isn’t blocking any prospects — they can still come up when they are ready
7) Signing Roark should make Toronto more attractive to remaining FAs
8) Contracts for top-tier pitchers have been absurd; overpaying for mid-tier pitchers on short contracts might be this offseason’s “market efficiency”
I’m not saying the contract is great, but it was necessary. The Jays pitching staff is rated #30 in fWAR. Something had to be done; more has to be done. But you can only sign the pitchers who will take your money. Hopefully, this signing turns some heads and one or two more pitchers line up for their chance to be overpaid.
P.S. I’m not aware of any Jays fan who thinks the Grichuk extension was “excellent,” just strawmen.
Do you know what a straw man is?
Well said terrymesmer
Lol… this is going to have ZERO effect on other FAs. If it does anything it will drive up their price not drive them to Toronto.
Exactly! Well laid out Terry. Thank you, I was especially pleased when you spoke to the current insane pitcher’s market trickle down effect.. only makes sense for way Fatter and longer contracts for all FA SP’s in the mid to even lower tiers this off season! And yeah, they really only need some experienced and proven inning eaters right now is another point while they grow. They could already have their future ace ace and# 2-3 only a couple of years away anyways, and Damn Rights, We all know Rogers can afford the $24M,,,and way more, but i will end it here.. Go Jays!
I see Terry and the people liking this post still practice stupid. Here we go….
1) Roark was projected by this site to get two years, not one
– That has nothing to do with what the Blue Jays plans are, should be, or how guys need to develop in 2021 when Roark is holding a spot that should be occupied by a young arm.
2) We all knew the Jays would have to overpay to get a starting pitcher
– If they aren’t an ace, don’t overpay.
3) Rogers can easily afford 2Y/$24M
– Rogers can easily afford 10/$400. They aren’t doing it. This point is weak.
4) It’s not your money
– I support the team. You support the team. Its our money. Shortsighted stupidity on your part. Very ignorant comment.
5) The Jays had only two starters on the roster who had been built up to throw 175 innings in 2020: Anderson and Thornton
– Wrong. A pitcher can be built to throw 175 innings but can’t because they aren’t good enough to reach 5 innings every start. Another dumb observation.
6) Roark isn’t blocking any prospects — they can still come up when they are ready
– Pearson for starters. Giles “could” be traded for an arm slated to start in AA or AAA in 2020, thus would be blocked by an overpaid Roark. More names could be added as soon as June.
7) Signing Roark should make Toronto more attractive to remaining FAs
– Nobody cares about Tanner Roark and where he signs. He’s barely a #4 starter. He doesn’t reach the radar.
8) Contracts for top-tier pitchers have been absurd; overpaying for mid-tier pitchers on short contracts might be this offseason’s “market efficiency”.
– Either plan to win or leave the industry. This is a wins and losses game. If the option is to overpay Tanner Roark, politely pass like a good Canadian and move on.
Signing wasn’t necessary. If any Jays fan is a “strawmen” type it would be you and most here know it.
@Guests You sound like such a child. There’s a reason you aren’t a baseball analyst because your takes are horrendous. Please stop embarrassing yourself.
Children are allowed accounts on here, Pride. However I can’t be a child; I’m not a Yankee fan.
I don’t know many jays fans who applaud the Grichuk extension. Seems like you have a bone to pick. If anything the majority of fans are frustrated by the empty promises thus far and continuously entering off seasons where “the window isn’t open” or “the value didn’t line up/not the right fit.”
No lecture but you you do know that, historically, Jays have had to overpay to get guys to cross the border. They even had to give Russell Martin 1 year more than anyone else offered and he is a Canuck.
You should take a real Good look at the last 10 yrs of the winter meetings to see what the Jays have done. Other than signing Halliday to a one day contract and a couple of rule 5 draft picks, they have not signed one free agent. So don’t Blame Canada for free agents not coming here, try blaming the front offices for making the players and agents not trust them to do anything to improve the team.
Not much to write home about. when grichuk was in STL, i referred to him as wiffmaster. Enjoy the breeze in YYZ
Paid a bit too much for Roark. Eat innings for a couple years and hope the young pitchers progress. I get it. If he doesn’t reverse his ground ball rate he’ll get murdered at Rogers Centre.
The Grichuk extension was awful the second it was made. He is what he always was. A low contact/low on-base hitter who K’s a ton. If he plays enough he’ll hit 30 at a time when a lot of guys hit 30. Wasn’t good on defense either, according to the metrics. He would have got a 2 year 10 deal elsewhere at the time. Tops.
Can’t wait to see him implode at Jarry Park
Nice reference. Well played.
Thx. I should have gone w Exhibition Stadium but I can’t resist a JP reference no matter how misplaced
I saw the Expos at Parc du Jarry as a little kid. Amazing memories.Thanks Dad!
Dude, I’m so jealous. That’s awesome
Parc Jarry
What? I can’t believe it? Finally the Blue Jays did something!
I think he can help them, that’s the main thing.
Michael Wacha went for an 1/8 of the price of Tanner Roark. Give me Wacha everyday of the week.
Not really. If Wacha meets his milestones, he’ll get close to one year of Roark’s.
If he hits all his marks he gets 10 million. Michael Wacha bears all that risk. If he gets 10 million bucks he was a phenomenal success. If Tanner Roark goes out and sucks it up he gets 12 million this year and the following season. A 4.67 FIP for a 33 year old #4 is not very exciting. Roark has been a consistent innings eater but there’s very little opportunity for surplus value on this deal. They either get what they paid for or they get ripped off.
Statcast paints a poor picture of either Wacha or Roark’s work last season. Roark posted a .345 xWOBA and Wacha posted a .350 xWOBA. Both of those are really bad. One of that got guaranteed 24 million bucks.
Them**
I like the Wacha contract for the Mets. And if he can stay healthy, he’s a nice #5 starter.
I do as well. Hard not to like the Wacha deal with guys like Roark getting 8x the total guarantee.
With the type of season Wacha just had, it’s understandable why his deal is mostly incentive laden.
Its Apples and Oranges.
Also did Wacha want to come to Toronto? If the Jays want to get their potential ace they either need to draft one or trade for one. Free agents studs are not signing in TO for less than absurd money and term. No thank you. I’ll take a Julio Tehran along with this signing and be very happy. Wouldn’t mind adding Tijuan Walker to that mix as well.
Who were they bidding against? Themselves?
Given how the pitching market is, plenty.
California Penal
Wild Thing!
Someday you will too.
I hate to say it but to consider a move up north it may be realistic that they have to consider an overpay.
With all this renewed interest in starting pitching, when will Jays sign Bartollo Colon???????????????????
Le Sexy Grande!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Le Derriere Grande!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Probably had to overpay because Canada.
This is true. One thing people don’t mention is non-residents pay income tax on the 81 home games played in Toronto. At their salaries, the federal tax is 33%. This is much higher than any state in the US as far as I know. So the higher salary for players to come to Canada will lessen the blow of the tax man somewhat. How many players are going to leave their home country and play in Canada for the season for less money when you consider the massive tax.
They are also entitled to free provincial healthcare and the excellent school system in Toronto and surrounding area. FREE.
Yes, free.
Although they also have to pay outrageous taxes and fees on everything they (and their family members buy and do.
It would be interesting to find out the percentage of MLB ballplayers that bring their family up to Canada to live with them.
The other guy posted pretty accurate, but not perfect, tax rates. There are states that pay similar rates without free healthcare and social services. Also, remember tax is paid in CAD and MLB players earn USD…
Not free. Did you not just read the post above? They are paying 33% of their salary in federal taxes plus whatever provincial taxes they pay. So at minimum 33% of 50% of $12 million is $2 million that Roark will be paying for the “free” healthcare and school systems.
He could pay the same rate in some US states and not have access to the healthcare, school and social service programs available to him in Toronto.
The #1 reason some US born players do not want to come to Toronto is because of Customs and Immigration. Fact. Ask them yourself.
Hahah not sure if your Canadian or not but all my taxes, benefits, union dues, pension equals out to 33%. They aren’t paying 33% in federal taxes
bigdaddyt…Yes I am Canadian and we’ll aware of the Canadian tax system. No offence but I would suggest your not making Tanner Roark’s new salary.
Income of $205,842 or per year more pays 33% income tax to the federal gov. On a $6 million salary (as half his games are played if Canada) he would pay $1,956,755in federal income tax and another $1,217,086 in Ontario income tax. It totals 53.53% tax. I am keeping all in US to keep it simple. The income tax would have to be paid in Canadian.
I can not find if the Ontario portion can qualify for a refund as a non resident but I assume not.. I am 100% certain the federal portion is not refunded.
you spelled offense with a C, so we have to assume you’re right…
The “amazing” iPhone Autocorrect. I missed the error. Thanks for correcting me. I was more concerned that I had the numbers correct as that was the point of my post.
And I would suggest that with all your taxes(federal, provincial, municipal, sales) would be well over 33%. Most Canadians who make over $100 000 per family pay over 40% taxes.
Tanner Roark was fun to watch while in Oakland. He is not overpowering but knows how to pitch and that counts too. No room for him with the talented A’s pitching staff though. Roark is a fine addition for the Blue Jays!
Not at that price.
It’s a a two year deal… Theirs basically no risk at all.
Good job Shapiro/Atkins. Let’s keep up the forward momentum. Now lock up Rick Porcello (3 years/36 mil…?) and take a flyer on the 12 year veteran of the offence inflated KBO, left hander Kwang-Hyun Kim. He has a career record of 136-77 with a 3.27 ERA in 1673.2 IP. At least then the Jays could have a possible league average starting rotation. Let the kids loose and take your chances and go for it!
Not Porcello.
Porcello is a proven innings eater (in 11 years 162.2 IP was his lowest)
Not Porcello but yes to Roark? Do you watch baseball, ever? Way too quick on a no after your diatribe on Roark.
Hell no on Porcello. Don’t care how many innings he pitches if he gets hit around, and will give you a north of 5 era…
For sure the Jays panicked. Kinda like the Morales signing. They lost out on EE so they overpaid for Morales. They realize playing in FA pitching is expensive this year and overpaid for Roark.
It’s a good signing for far too much money though. Hopefully his pitching ability can influence some of the kids.
Expensive bargain bin shopping for Atkins.
He’ll get bombed in some of the AL parks.
I’m not worried about the price. Jay’s have a payroll around 77M with this. It’s not terribly higher than the prediction and we have seen a lot of pitchers go over the estimate.
Roark is fine but obviously we want a bigger move to help this team take the next step forward.
We should be worried about the thought process.
I called it. Best this front office can do is Tanner Roark. A solid starter, team needed it. I like the short term deal. Upside with little risk on a two year deal. Jays will bring back Shoemaker. And it’ll be Shoemaker, Roark and Chase Anderson leading the staff. Wouldn’t be surprised if the Jays brought in someone else as well. Possibly Miley in a 1 year deal with a club option.
That rotation doesn’t make me want to buy a ticket.
I understand… But Marco Estrada wasn’t a household name around baseball, but he helped us win. I think Roark is going to help the Jays for a couple of seasons. As long as he’s a winning pitcher, who will log effective innings. To me, it’s a solid signing. Would’ve liked to see Lindblom sign with us as well.. No reason why some of these lower names can’t be effective pitchers. We need guys who can pitch innings.. Roark will be a really solid signing. And people are saying it’s an overpay, I disagree. I think it’s a solid deal. Wish we woulda got Linbolm as well.. Rotation would’ve been set.. Obviously no aces, but a couple of Marco Estrada type of guys, to me is a really solid move.
Estrada was traded for, not overpaid for like Roark. Plus Estrada was acquired during a “win-now” period. Bringing in Roark in a rebuild? Let’s hope for a strong first half and then trade at the deadline. That’s the best case scenario.
For Jays fans and the Jays’ young studs, I hope he has a good year. Sub-4.00 ERA, at least a dozen wins.
This signing is “okay” Couldn’t expect him to come here for less. We needed some pitching and hopefully one more SP can be added.
I’m really happy this isn’t a 3 or 4 year deal for 10 million a year….
He was solid here in Cincy, will keep the team in the game almost every outing, good personality. Good for him and good luck
Blue Jays should’ve outbid the Brewers for Lindblom.. he got a very team friendly deal with incentives. Lindblom for his price, we’ll definitely be the steal of this free agency. Blue Jays should’ve gotten in on that … Roark is a solid addition though. Both guys would’ve been great.
Lindblom lives two hours drive from Milwaukee…Jays didn’t have a chance
Roark is solid but why would the Blue Jays sign him? Simply an unnecessary signing for the rebuild.
Because the Blue Jays don’t need solid starters?
The Jays need mlb-caliber starting pitching.
Good for Tanner. still one of my favorite nationals.
Sounds like he’ll bring a good work ethic and presence to the clubhouse which is full of young guys needing leadership.
Yup the leadership and work ethic that Roark brings that’s the upside.
Nationals17 nailed it above. When you make over ~ $250K in Canada, you get killed in taxes, so in order for the Jays to attract free agents they need to overpay significantly to offset this (as do the California teams). His taxes on his 81 home games will be close to, if not exceed 50% of his gross pay when you factor in both national and provincial taxes! So Roark isn’t getting this amazing deal, he’s basically getting the equivalent of a $9M/yr. deal has he signed in Texas or Florida (states with no income taxes).
Roark eats innings and should give the Jays exactly what they are looking for. 160-185 innings and a great mentor for their younger pitchers. All in all, this was a reasonable deal for both sides.
Horrible way too much for a guy who’s gonna get lit up
Who wins Cole vs Roark?
Why do people keep talking about the taxes
Rich people dont pay tax, there are MANY ways rich people can shelter their income to avoid taxes.
Umbrella under an insurance policy
Buying real estate. Renting real estate
Charity and donations
The list goes on an on
Baseball players are w2 employees, dope. There is no way to “hide” the income, the league and club report it to the IRS directly and deductions are made.
The rest of your stupid schemes to avoid taxes do nothing of the sort. How does “buying” real estate allow Tanner Roark avoid or defer taxes in 2020? How does giving away money to charities (losing dollar for dollar) a big deal when the reward is purely a deduction ( not dollar for dollar) readily available to anyone. Very low iq stuff.
No one says HIDE money
Its called sheltering your income
And it appears you have zero idea how the tax system works in Canada or the USA
Get yourself up to speed on it. And you’ll understand more what im eluding to
I have a law degree and took many tax law classes. I worked for a CPA before law school. You are talking nonsense (rich pay no taxes due to “umbrella” insurance) and have yet to provide any evidence whatsoever for your stupid elusive, frankly conspiratorial claims. Either tell me the IRS code sections you are referring to and how your avoidance scheme interacts with it or shut up.
Good for you. I’m a financial advisor and teach clients how to shelter their taxes. I have family who are CPA.
You can laywer yourself to death. You’re still wrong
But congrats on looking like an idiot trying to throw shade and ugly comments just to make yourself feel superior
Must be the laywer thing
He asked for IRS code sections. As a citizen and Jays fan I’d like to know in-case I ever make enough to hit that bracket. Can you divulge for this non-lawyer?
Cant give free advice or I’ll be sued
What i can say is IRS is American
Canadian people are accountable to Revenue Canada.
I think the confusion is coming from his thinking I’m implying they hide income, as if the Jays would allow one of their employees to do something improper in regards to their taxes
What I suggest is everyone pay their taxes and adhere to all Gov’t rules and regulations
But the notion loopholes dont exist for refunds. And sheltering income to pay less taxes isnt real, well…. cant argue with stupidity
He is the pride of Wilmington, IL. Would’ve loved a White Sox homecoming for him.
Jays fans should be way more concerned about WHO is doing the deals and not WHO is being dealt for.
Roark is okay for what he is. A plumber. Atkins on the other hand, is a damn disaster.
This clown is the WORST GM in baseball! He actually thinks Brandon Drury is an asset! -0.2 WAR and a defensive liability.
He extends Grichuk, trades for Derek Fisher and KEEPS HIM! Gifts Stroman to the Mets for some magic beans. Atkins is your problem. He gotta go!!
Awful team… only worth watching cause of Bo and Cavan. Vladdy needs to get in shape!!! Oh ya can’t forget Grichuk is fun to watch!