Blue Jays, Kirk, agree to five year extension
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The Toronto Blue Jays are investing in Alejandro Kirk. They have reached an agreement with their All-Star catcher on a five year extension worth $58MM. The works out to roughly $11.6M per year.
Kirk, who was initially eligible to hit the open market after 2026, is now signed through the 2030 season. He is also the first Blue Jays player to have his contract run into the next decade. Both Anthony Santander and Andres Gimenez are signed through 2029 with an option for 2030.
Robert Murray of FanSided first reported the deal with additional details being revealed by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
2025 will be a big season for Kirk, who enters the year as the Blue Jays undisputed number one catcher after sharing the duties with Danny Jansen over the last several seasons. With Jansen now a Tampa Bay, Kirk will likely have a heavier and more substantial workload.
Over the last couple of seasons, Kirk has turned himself into one of the most elite pitch framers in the game, with his metrics in that category in the 98th percentile league-wide. While his home runs have decreased since his 2022 All-Star season, he has become a more well-rounded hitter.
Also, since the trade of Jansen last August, Kirk found his power stroke late in the year as he started receiving more regular playing time.
At one point, the Blue Jays had three catchers on their roster in Kirk, Jansen, and Gabriel Moreno. Now, Kirk is the last man standing and belongs right alongside Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in terms of the value and importance he brings to this Blue Jays club.
Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro has stressed just how much Kirk means to the organization.
"[He's] probably No. 2 of guys I'm most excited to see play this year,» behind only a revitalized Bo Bichette. «I just feel like he's going to have a really good year.»
The contract will take him through his age 31 season.
| POLL | ||
MARS 23 | 176 ANSWERS Blue Jays, Kirk, agree to five year extension Are you happy that the Blue Jays extended Alejandro Kirk? | ||
| Yes | 114 | 64.8 % |
| Yes, but now Vladdy | 44 | 25 % |
| He's worth it | 2 | 1.1 % |
| Let's hope it doesn't turn into Springer | 16 | 9.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
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