Jays sign Mathis to extension, 2y/$3m total + option

[akakalakin]

giving Travis the starter job without having played 1 game in the majors, could set this franchise back 5 years

no way does AA do this

[diddykong]

giving Travis the starter job without having played 1 game in the majors, could set this franchise back 5 years

no way does AA do this

i'm sure the original plan was to give TDA some time and trade JPA in the offseason. obviously the injury to TDA has changed the plan. they cannot keep TDA in the AAA for one more season. its gonna be interesting what AA does.

i think the signing of mathis is a good indiction that TDA will be the starting catcher, as mathis has become a servicable everyday catch (great defensive, okay offensively) IF TDA struggles.

[satyr9]

There's nothing wrong with extending Mathis. He's a fine backup C. But just like JMac's last contract, why does it have to be two years?

And I don't think this means JPA is gone at all. It would surprise me quite a bit if the Jays trusted D'Arnaud to be the full-time starter immediately going into next year, especially after this significant injury.

I agree that I wouldn't go 2 years on the extension for Mathis, but I think I know how it happens. Mathis hasn't hurt his stock this year, although he probably hasn't improved it much either (he's a known commodity). So if the Jays want to lock him up at the same price, rather than potentially getting driven up 500k (maybe even 1m?) by someone else in the FA market than they have to give him the security for the year after too. I'd probably role the dice myself and go year-to-year, 'cause I don't much care if I have to pay him 3.5-4.5 over 2 instead of 3 if it leaves me the option to walk away between years, but AA's new mantra seems to be about getting the small pieces on his roster locked down.

It's my first real disagreement with a philosophical choice he's made. What got him off to such a great start as a GM was the cheap FA signings he made and the insane luck he had. Yes the pick stuff is gone, which impacts that strategy a lot, but I still don't see the point of tying down back-up C's and 4th or 5th RH relievers, 'cause there's always the chance you find some insight on a guy or just get lucky and create some real value out of nothing, rather than locking down a fair contract for both sides in a role where you can find similar value and production 99% of the time.