The professional sports world seems to have more deadlines than a daily paper.
The St. Louis Cardinals, apparently, missed the one imposed by Albert Pujols; Jose Bautista’s was subtle. Unlike Albert’s, it was never an issue anyway. And, oh yes, a certain deadline established by the National Hockey League has inadvertently spawned a marathon of live television on this fine network.
There’s another deadline looming as the Blue Jays prepare for the coming season, and it involves second baseman Aaron Hill.
When he signed an extension at the dawn of the 2008 campaign, it came with a flexible set of options. The Blue Jays can commit to Hill for three more years at $26 million. But they have to make that commitment by April 1st. In other words, meet a deadline.
Should that day pass without action, the third year is automatically voided. The Jays will then wait until the season ends and pick up either one or two option years at $8-million annually.
This, it appears, is the route they will take.
Obviously, Hill has a few things to prove in 2011. Last season isn’t exactly a conversation piece with him these days. He was hurt from the start and was never able to match the All-Star performance of 2009.
The Blue Jays want to see how he responds. As general manager Alex Anthopoulos points out, they can always offer a third year later at, say, $11-million.
So now it’s up to Hill to prove, yet again, that he is worth the investment.
MY TAKE: After watching Brett Lawrie smoke line drives to the opposite field, hit jaw-dropping moon-shots to dead centre, and look remarkably comfortable picking short hops at third base, it’s become obvious that his arrival in Toronto is now a matter of time.
This begs the question: Could that be as soon as Opening Day? Wisdom suggests Lawrie needs more seasoning in the minors, and that easing him in to big league baseball as a September call-up is a safer route.
But there’s a catch. Though he hasn’t said so publicly, there’s a feeling Anthopoulos really wants Jose Bautista back in right field. That, it seems, would require moving an outfielder, which is why you’ve already heard about the reported desire to trade Juan Rivera.
Lawrie is refreshingly confident. Not arrogant; confident. It’s a swagger not seen in this clubhouse in some time. He’ll tell you, straight-faced, that he has every intention of making the club. A true rookie starting at third is not unprecedented in Toronto (Eric Hinske). Will you see it again this year? That’s a question Lawrie seems empowered to answer himself.