Reports: Blue Jays Sign George Springer

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

So who gets the deed to Buster Olney’s farm?

After nearly three months of speculation, George Springer is now nearing a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays pending a physical, according to Jeff Passan. Brendon Kuhn was the first to report the Jays were nearing a deal with the All-Star outfielder.

Jon Heyman says the deal will be for six years and $150 million–an average annual value of $25 million per year. Mark Feinsand reports the Mets offered six years and around $120 million to $125 million. The Blue Jays topped that was a boatload more money.

Springer was a big fish for the Mets this offseason, with reports coming out nearly every month the Mets were front runners for Springer’s services. Buster Olney said he’d “bet the farm” on Springer becoming a Met back in December, and as recently as this weekend, Jon Heyman said there was a “good chance” the Mets could sign Springer while also extending the newly acquired Francisco Lindor.

The tides starting turning in the last 24 hours or so, though, and now the former Astro is taking his talents north of the border (when the Canadian government allows).

The 31-year-old outfielder had a 134 wRC+ over the first six-plus years of his career to go with 26.6 fWAR. He will now spend the remainder of his prime anchoring a young Blue Jays offense with Vlad Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, Cavan Biggio, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., and Teoscar Hernandez.