renuszm
02-18-2003, 07:47 PM
http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/tor/news/tor_news.jsp?ymd=20030218&content_id=201457&vkey=news_tor&fext=.jsp
DUNEDIN, Fla. -- The Blue Jays settled their last outstanding off-field issue on Tuesday by inking Shannon Stewart to a one-year contract worth $6.2 million. Before Tuesday's developments, the two sides were headed for an arbitration hearing, something Stewart said in a conference call with the Toronto press that he wanted to avoid.
"We've got a good thing going and I don't want to be a distraction," he said. "My whole thing was not to go to arbitration. It can get ugly and I don't think any player likes to sit through that."
By settling, Stewart potentially left a significant amount of money on the table. The total he signed for is lower than the midpoint between the two salary proposals. The Blue Jays had offered $5.5 million, while Stewart's agents asked for $7.5 million.
J.P. Ricciardi, Toronto's general manger, said that he was also glad the two sides could come to an agreement without going to arbitration.
"I wouldn't say relieved is a good word, but I don't have to put a tie on, so that's good," he said. "All along, we stayed pretty true to our word at what number we'd be comfortable settling at. We came in under the midpoint, if that's a big deal, but in our eyes we made some concessions
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 205
Bats/Throws: R
Stewart, the team's left fielder and leadoff hitter, has never played for another organization. Toronto selected him with a first-round pick in the 1992 Amateur Draft, and he's been one of the team's most consistent hitters in recent seasons. Heading into the spring with a career .302 batting average, Stewart will be eligible for free agency after this season.
Since he signed a one-year deal, there's a chance that Stewart will have to deal with the specter of a midseason trade, an issue he addressed on Tuesday.
"Trade rumors are always there. I've been through them so many times before," he said. "It doesn't bother me anymore."
He also went on to say that free agency would not provide extra motivation, insisting that he puts his best effort forward every game and every year, and that the upcoming campaign won't be any different.
Ricciardi wouldn't comment on the outfielder's long-term outlook with Toronto, but he did say that the team was living within a stringent financial structure.
"In order for us to be able to get to a point where we can be a contender, we have to continue the rebuilding phase," Ricciardi said. "I don't think this is a one-shot deal where we're trying to be great in one year.
"We're putting our dollars where we think it's best for the club, short-term and long-term."
The fleet-footed outfielder is in Miami, so he doesn't have a long-distance commute to training camp. Stewart said that he still has some things to take care of, but that he should be in camp by Thursday afternoon. The mandatory reporting date isn't until Friday.
Ricciardi said that settling with Stewart may allow the team to get one or two more players into camp. He also said that the team's offense is set and that the bullpen seems to have enough competition, but that he might be able to add another starting pitcher.
Since the team is currently $1.3 million under its expected budget, Ricciardi will have some room to work. He expressed optimism that he can add another player before month's end. He will not, however, make any more moves to pare the team's payroll.
"I think there's a couple starters out there that we may have a shot at," he said, before joking about an alternate source of income. "We've been thinking about putting a collection plate out here."
Ricciardi and company can now move on to other pressing matters of business within the organization. Toronto only has three players under contract for the 2004 season, and the GM said that the team may have enough flexibility to lock up some pre-arbitration players to long-term deals.
"We're going down the road on a couple things right now," he said. "Hopefully, we'll be able to do something in the near future."
DUNEDIN, Fla. -- The Blue Jays settled their last outstanding off-field issue on Tuesday by inking Shannon Stewart to a one-year contract worth $6.2 million. Before Tuesday's developments, the two sides were headed for an arbitration hearing, something Stewart said in a conference call with the Toronto press that he wanted to avoid.
"We've got a good thing going and I don't want to be a distraction," he said. "My whole thing was not to go to arbitration. It can get ugly and I don't think any player likes to sit through that."
By settling, Stewart potentially left a significant amount of money on the table. The total he signed for is lower than the midpoint between the two salary proposals. The Blue Jays had offered $5.5 million, while Stewart's agents asked for $7.5 million.
J.P. Ricciardi, Toronto's general manger, said that he was also glad the two sides could come to an agreement without going to arbitration.
"I wouldn't say relieved is a good word, but I don't have to put a tie on, so that's good," he said. "All along, we stayed pretty true to our word at what number we'd be comfortable settling at. We came in under the midpoint, if that's a big deal, but in our eyes we made some concessions
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 205
Bats/Throws: R
Stewart, the team's left fielder and leadoff hitter, has never played for another organization. Toronto selected him with a first-round pick in the 1992 Amateur Draft, and he's been one of the team's most consistent hitters in recent seasons. Heading into the spring with a career .302 batting average, Stewart will be eligible for free agency after this season.
Since he signed a one-year deal, there's a chance that Stewart will have to deal with the specter of a midseason trade, an issue he addressed on Tuesday.
"Trade rumors are always there. I've been through them so many times before," he said. "It doesn't bother me anymore."
He also went on to say that free agency would not provide extra motivation, insisting that he puts his best effort forward every game and every year, and that the upcoming campaign won't be any different.
Ricciardi wouldn't comment on the outfielder's long-term outlook with Toronto, but he did say that the team was living within a stringent financial structure.
"In order for us to be able to get to a point where we can be a contender, we have to continue the rebuilding phase," Ricciardi said. "I don't think this is a one-shot deal where we're trying to be great in one year.
"We're putting our dollars where we think it's best for the club, short-term and long-term."
The fleet-footed outfielder is in Miami, so he doesn't have a long-distance commute to training camp. Stewart said that he still has some things to take care of, but that he should be in camp by Thursday afternoon. The mandatory reporting date isn't until Friday.
Ricciardi said that settling with Stewart may allow the team to get one or two more players into camp. He also said that the team's offense is set and that the bullpen seems to have enough competition, but that he might be able to add another starting pitcher.
Since the team is currently $1.3 million under its expected budget, Ricciardi will have some room to work. He expressed optimism that he can add another player before month's end. He will not, however, make any more moves to pare the team's payroll.
"I think there's a couple starters out there that we may have a shot at," he said, before joking about an alternate source of income. "We've been thinking about putting a collection plate out here."
Ricciardi and company can now move on to other pressing matters of business within the organization. Toronto only has three players under contract for the 2004 season, and the GM said that the team may have enough flexibility to lock up some pre-arbitration players to long-term deals.
"We're going down the road on a couple things right now," he said. "Hopefully, we'll be able to do something in the near future."