23. Toronto Blue Jays
The Jays have from time to time joined the chase for borderline top-tier free agent talent. But they don’t generally make a habit of it.
The three exceptions both involved sluggers who, by modern standards, came at a bargain.
The first was Vernon Wells, a re-up the Jays extended in 2008 at a cost of $126 million over seven seasons.
That remained the franchise record, although Toronto pushed it in 2014. That’s when the Jays agreed to take on the six years and $118 million that remained on a deal the Rockies had signed one year earlier with their shortstop, Troy Tulowitzki. The Jays acted on the mistaken notion that, if you can hit in Denver, you can hit in Toronto.
A consistent .300 bat with power for the Rockies, Tulowitzki labored through parts of three injury-plagued seasons for the Jays before being released, at a cost estimated at close to $60 million.
By then, Jays management was ready to try a third time, and this time their target was Astros outfielder George Springer. They got him at what is today a franchise record of $150 million over six seasons through 2026. The $25 million AAV is likewise a franchise high.
Springer was the first of two nine-figure Jays signees, the second being Kevin Gausman. Prior to 2022 he signed a five-year, $110 million contract.