Ken Giles long term in Toronto now?

[Metallikid]

Should have just traded him when we had the chance...

[polo007]

Ken Giles officially announced on Monday in a post on his wife's private personal Instagram account that he will undergo Tommy John surgery.

[JaysRule15]

Sucks to see, but writing was on the wall. Hopefully he's healthy in 2022. Wouldn't mind seeing him back.

[polo007]

How Giles and Blue Jays can use Phelps' contract as framework to stay together - Sportsnet.ca

A strong, healthy season would have positioned Giles as one of the top relief arms on the market, alongside Liam Hendriks, Blake Treinen and Alex Colome. Last winter, Atlanta signed Will Smith to a $40-million, three-year deal while Drew Pomeranz got $34 million over four from San Diego in free agency, so there was an opportunity for a significant payday, even amid all the pandemic-caused uncertainty.

Instead, a dreaded limbo.

Focusing on his recovery is certainly one way to accomplish that, limiting the financial impact to one year in a market that could be restrained by the economic fallout of COVID-19. At the same time, there have been a handful of creative contracts for pitchers just coming off Tommy John surgery in free agency that offer an interesting potential pathway for Giles.

One in particular, the Blue Jays’ deal with reliever David Phelps last year, presents the type of win-win framework that could benefit both player and club. Phelps, who was also coming off ligament-replacement surgery (although his was in the spring as opposed to the fall), received a $2.5 million guarantee, with his salary increasing in increments of $250,000 for appearing in 25, 30 and 35 games. His salary went up further in increments of $350,000 by appearing in 40, 45, 50, 55, and 60 games, with an extra $125,000 for finishing 25 and 30 games, and $250,000 for finishing 35 and 40 games.

In exchange for all that, the Blue Jays got a 2020 club option at $1 million that increased to $3 million if Phelps pitched in more than 30 games in 2019, $5 million if he appeared in more than 40, $7 million if more than 50, and $8 million if he reached the 50-game threshold along with 40 games finished. There was another set of bonuses determined by the number of games Phelps pitched in the first year.

The setup and values would need to change for Giles given that he’s been an elite closer and he may not be able to pitch at all in 2021. But teams have made aggressive guarantees for starting pitchers coming off Tommy John.

[North_of_Border]

Alek Manoah anyone? Could be a two pitch beast RP if they lose Giles to Tommy John

Manoah has beast SP potential. I rather have an Ace starter than a shut down RP. We must give him a chance first.

[polo007]

Read on Twitter

[GoRapstheoriginal]

So June/July 2021.

[Kris_Banks]

I think you wait until the start of the 2022 season just to make sure he's ready.