"Starting with Yesavage, there aren't a lot of comparable's as it's rare young pitchers sign extensions so early. A few examples include Chris Archer who signed an eight-year deal in April 2014 after only 29 major league appearances. He debuted in 2012 and pitched in 23 games in 2013 before signing the deal that had a maximum value of $43.75 million and a guaranteed value of $25.5 million."
"But pitchers and young arms are unfortunately fleeting and that's why a lot of them don't get those long term deals until they hit free agency, Archer's brief success being exhibit A. The Blue Jays also recently had a "pitcher of the future" who was released earlier this season, Alek Manoah. Manoah burst onto the scene in 2021 and was a Cy Young finalist in 2022, but injuries and inconsistencies quickly caught up and he is now a member of the Atlanta Braves."
"Regardless, Yesavage feels like a good investment to make for the Blue Jays. He landed a $4.1 million signing bonus after being drafted in the first round of the 2024 MLB draft, so what's a couple million more? He's scheduled to earn $820,000 for the 2026 season and if he has the year he is expected to have, he could be one of the best dollar for value players in the league."
Three Blue Jays — Trey Yesavage, Daulton Varsho, and Addison Barger — produced varying regular-season results but delivered critical postseason moments that could justify extended stays with Toronto. Yesavage emerged as a candidate for an early long-term extension despite the rarity and risks of pre-arbitration deals. Comparisons include Chris Archer's early eight-year contract and Alek Manoah's rapid rise and decline, illustrating both upside and volatility for young pitchers. Yesavage signed for a $4.1 million bonus and is slated for $820,000 in 2026; an eight-year contract beginning in 2027 would buy out arbitration years and potentially provide strong dollar-for-value return.
Read at Jays Journal
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]