I am shocked, Blue Jays sign Frank Thomas 2yr 18 million.

Journeyman · Nov 17, 2006

Not so much the amount (which is nuts for a guy with Thomas' history) but for it to be the Blue Jays , who spent a fortune last season and it didn't really pan out....I just don't think Frank Thomas is the answer for this team, in this position....this reminds me of the same thing Seattle did a couple years ago, just signing anyone they could, whether it made sense or not.

Meanwhile Oakland is now the latest front runner to land Barry Bonds...I still feel he will stay in San Francisco, which also hosts the 2007 All Star game.

Holysmoke+ · Nov 17, 2006

that makes no sense to me

Stocks · Nov 17, 2006

When I first heard this I figured they were probaly compinsating for the possible lose of Veron Wells but apparently he's happy about the signing and more likely to resign with the jays because of this deal.

X-Files · Nov 17, 2006

That is nuts, but what is really crazy is 40 million just to
talk to a guy in Asia.

C.P. · Nov 17, 2006

over rated over paid crying BITCH...:bigfinger

fucnluc · Nov 17, 2006

X-Files said:
That is nuts, but what is really crazy is 40 million just to
talk to a guy in Asia.

51.1 actually, and yeah, I would think this money was worth it if the contract is infested with performance incentives and outs for toronto but it doesn't look that way

FranksandBeans · Nov 17, 2006

9 million a year for an mvp candidate aint bad. it good

Journeyman · Nov 17, 2006

Franks and Beans said:
9 million a year for an mvp candidate aint bad. it good

Big IF, if he remains healthy.... something he has not done back to back in quite a while.

Thomas has basically played 3 of the last 6 years and has not put 3 years together since age 32, higghly unlikey he plays up to what he did last season for the next two seasons...for the money, this was a bad signing.

SportSavant · Nov 17, 2006

I guess maybe Ted Rogers wants to see a championship before he dies?

Santo · Nov 17, 2006

It was more to be the only team to talk to him, and you don't have to pay if you dont' sign him, so if you think he's worth $80m over 5 years, why not bid 51.1, offer him 29, if he takes it you get him for what you think he's worth, if not, you've lost nothing and you stop anyone else getting him this year.

MookieOO · Nov 17, 2006

C.P. said:
over rated over paid crying BITCH...:bigfinger

Whiny or not, the Big Hurt is a first-ballot Hall of Famer and the BEST hitter of the 1990s. As a result, it's pretty tough for him to be overrated.

5teamparlay · Nov 17, 2006

As life-long White Sox fan, I am glad to see he is getting his due. Allways underpaid until now IMO.

Allways a presense in any line-up.

dmmd98 · Nov 17, 2006

What do you mean it didnt really work out? The Jays had more wins then St Louis and they played in a tougher division it isn't like they lost 90 games.

If a team really wants to play with the big boys in the East they have to make these types of moves. It's only 18 million if and yes that may be a big IF Thomas can do what he did last year the contract is fine. The Jays couldn't afford to get into the race with the Soriano, and Lee of the free agent world so they took a chance on a guy who when in the lineup can hit around the 30 home runs and 100 rbi's plus that Soriano and Lee bring to a lineup.

Kojak · Nov 17, 2006

The reason Blue Jays made this move from what I hear is they are going to trade Vernon Wells who is in the ly of his contract with possibly Houston the destination. They don't believe Wells is worth 13-15 million which is what he and his agent will be asking for. Thomas was signed to replace his bat. Look for someone like Dave Roberts also signed to take over CF and Wells moved for a package of say Chris Burke, and 2 young pitching prospects from Houston. Burke would fill Frankie C's role who is a free agent and likely does not resign.

dmmd98 · Nov 17, 2006

Chris Burke and 2 young prospects are not going to get it done. Wells agent is asking for 20 million. 13-15 million the Jays do the contract ASAP because of what he means to the team.

Besides the Angels are prepared to offer Erwin Santana and a prospect and the Mets have considered offering a package with Lasting Millage and Aaron Heilman for Wells. Even if one is a rumor and the other is based on fact the Jays would be idiots not to take either package over Burke/farm players.

It's going to be an interesting off season for alot of teams out there.

Journeyman · Nov 17, 2006

dmmd98 said:
What do you mean it didnt really work out? The Jays had more wins then St Louis and they played in a tougher division it isn't like they lost 90 games.

87 wins with all the players they brought in was a disappointment, they salvaged 87 wins but when it counted they went in the tank...they need more pitching.

I can't believe they're going to throw this money at Thomas and let a guy like Wells go, they MUST sign Wells....if Wells is out this move makes even less sense.

Dubpoet · Nov 17, 2006

"in this position" ????

dmmd98 · Nov 17, 2006

Journeyman said:
87 wins with all the players they brought in was a disappointment, they salvaged 87 wins but when it counted they went in the tank...they need more pitching.

I can't believe they're going to throw this money at Thomas and let a guy like Wells go, they MUST sign Wells....if Wells is out this move makes even less sense.

Every team needs more pitching it isn't easy to find. Plus a full year of Roy Halladay and AJ Burnett with Ryan closing it out is a better starting point then most teams in MLB.

We differ on the Jays 87 wins being a dissappointment but that's fine. The Jays were just a 500 team the year before and lost 90 games the year before that it wasn't like they were on the brink of taking out the Yankees plus the Jays went 18-10 in September/Oct so it wasn't like they folded like the Red Sox. Would I say the Jays season was a success, well no but was there more pluses than minues going into 2007.

Now did the Jays have a hole at the DH spot since Hillenbrand went crazy... well yes. Does Frank Thomas fill that void and make the Jays a better team well yes again that is all that matters. No one here is directly paying him the 18 million over two years.

What Frank Thomas got has little to do with Vernon Wells. That is a two way street the Jays can offer him the moon but he may not want to resign (ala Shawn Green) the Jays (I hope) are not going to say that they can't sign Wells because they gave Thomas a boatload of money the Jays will lose Wells if one or two things happen a) Wells doesn't want to resign long term or if he wants to test the free agent waters (which no one could blame him) or b) Wells wants more money then the Mets gave Beltran something atleast publicly the Jays have said they wont do.

joeyfitzclick · Nov 17, 2006

Trust me Mr. Rogers can afford this, you should see the cell bill I got from that prick for the four days I was in Toronto last month.

:scared:

dmmd98 · Nov 17, 2006

joeyfitzclick said:
Trust me Mr. Rogers can afford this, you should see the cell bill I got from that prick for the four days I was in Toronto last month.

:scared:

On a related note hope you enjoyed my hometown and

Rogers Communications doubles dividend as profits soar
Last Updated: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 | 4:13 PM ET
CBC News

Rogers Communications is boosting its dividend and planning to split its stock after it reported a tripling of its third-quarter profit.

Rogers made $154 million (48 cents a share) in Q3, compared with $48.9 million (16 cents a share) in the same quarter last year.

Operating revenues rose 14.7 per cent to $2.35 billion, led by an 18.4 per cent increase in its wireless business. Wireless now contributes more than half of Rogers' revenues.

All Rogers divisions reported an increase in revenues, with the exception of its video stores, where sales fell 5.6 per cent.

"While we have much work and investment in front of us and competition continues to be intense, the solid operating results from our businesses are combining to drive increasing levels of cash flow and are positioning us increasingly well for continued success," CEO Ted Rogers said in a statement.

On the strength of its earnings, Rogers is more than doubling its annual stock dividend — from 15 to 32 cents a share.

It is also proposing to split its Class A voting and Class B non-voting shares on a two-for-one basis. Shareholders will be asked to approve the split at a special meeting on Dec. 15. CEO Rogers controls 91 per cent of the Class A shares.

Rogers Class B shares were up $3 on the TSX to end at $67.19.