Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos says he is a man of his word. When Anthopoulos makes a commitment to a player, he intends to honour it, regardless of the perceived repercussions from the outside world.
That type of mentality was the leading reason behind veteran John Buck getting everyday starts behind the plate late in the 2010 season even when it became apparent his days in a Blue Jays uniform were numbered.
In a controversial move, Buck continued starting for the rebuilding Blue Jays while rookie catcher J.P. Arencibia watched from the dugout. The decision was heavily criticized by both the media and the fan base, but Anthopoulos said it was something the organization needed to do.
"When John Buck was signed to a one-year deal, the promise was made to him that he was going to be an everyday player from start to finish," Anthopoulos said.
"When we were competing to sign him, there were a few other teams that wanted to sign him. That was really what separated us from some of the other teams."
Based strictly on performance, Buck was the Blue Jays' best option behind the plate in 2010. The 30-year-old enjoyed a career season, hitting .281 with 20 home runs and 66 RBIs.
Despite the lofty numbers, the organization came under fire for starting Buck over one of the club's top prospects. Toronto was putting an emphasis on youth and it was apparent that Buck -- an impending free agent -- didn't fit into the Blue Jays' long-term plans.
Instead of giving Arencibia an opportunity, though, Toronto gave the vast majority of the playing time to Buck. That decision helped Buck earn a three-year, $18 million contract with the Florida Marlins, but it did little to show whether Arencibia would be able to succeed in the Major Leagues.
At the time, manager Cito Gaston was burdened with most of the blame. The 66-year-old was set to retire at the end of the season, and he was accused of sacrificing the long-term benefit of the club in order to finish his career with the best possible team on the field.
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