Toronto Blue Jays ownership is fully invested in seeing the club extend its competitive window, says Mark Shapiro, the team’s president and CEO.
Shapiro joined Prime Time Sports on Tuesday and revealed that he discussed revenue and the opportunity that currently exists for the Blue Jays during a recent meeting with key members of team owner Rogers Communications.
“I think everybody was extremely supportive of doing what it takes to maximize the window,” Shapiro told host Bob McCown on Sportsnet 590 the FAN. “When I say supportive it wasn’t just moral support, like a slap on the butt and a clap, it was ‘Here are the financial resources, do what you need to do.’
“That was clear in what we did over the deadline period starting at (Melvin Upton Jr.) and moving forward.”
The Blue Jays added notable salary prior to Monday’s non-waiver trade deadline. Included in that is $5 million the club owes to Upton in the remainder of his contract (the San Diego Padres will pay the other $17 million); roughly $4.5 million for left-hander Francisco Liriano this season plus $13,666,667 next year; and $2.6 million still owed to Scott Feldman.
As well, Toronto ate the remainder of Jesse Chavez’s $4 million and Franklin Morales’s $2 million.
Shapiro said the club could also be active on the trade front in August, when teams can acquire players who pass through waivers. Typically that’s when players owed significant salary are moved.
“We still have some flexibility as we go through August should the opportunity present itself,” he said.
Shapiro also spoke about young right-hander Aaron Sanchez and his impending move to the bullpen, which will come in the midst of a breakout season for the 24-year-old that’s seen him establish a new career high in innings.
“We haven’t determined yet what the right time is, what the right approach is,” Shapiro said of removing Sanchez from the starting rotation. “At some point he’s not going to start anymore this year. He will not run 230 innings and pitch through October. That’s not going to happen. That can’t happen. No one in their right mind, including him, would suggest that can happen.
“At some point you have to decide how do you allocate those innings. What’s the most respectful thing and appropriate thing to do for this young man and how do you balance that with our insatiable desire to win a world championship.”
