Janssen eager to take new Jays for ‘a spin’
Posted February 14, 2012 3:07 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Casey Janssen is thrilled to have a new contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, even if he doesn’t know yet how they plan on using him in 2012.
On Monday the 30-year-old reliever and the team avoided salary arbitration after agreeing on a two-year contract worth $5.9 million, with a $4-million club option for 2014.
Coming off a strong 2011 season in which he posted a 2.26 ERA, 1.096 WHIP and 53 strikeouts in 55.2 innings, Janssen could only watch this off-season as GM Alex Anthopoulos went about revamping the bullpen by adding veterans Darren Oliver and Francisco Cordero via free agency and Jason Frasor and closer Sergio Santos in separate trades with the Chicago White Sox.
At the end of last season the Blue Jays said they were happy with Janssen’s 2011 performance in a largely setup role, but indicated they might like him even more an inning or two earlier.
Given the moves the Jays have made this off-season, that’s likely to be the case, even though manager John Farrell didn’t say much to Janssen during their brief chat Monday beyond a few words of congratulations.
During a conference call with reporters on Tuesday, Janssen took a more-the-merrier approach to how the off-season bullpen makeover might change his role in 2012.
“Seeing all the moves was kind of a nice thing,” he explained. “You can never have enough quality arms and as stated often last year with the struggles we’ve had at times, to get some legit guys in the back end is always a positive.”
Janssen wouldn’t say just how close he and the Jays were to leaving things in the hands of the arbitrator other than to say both sides were “ready based on the situation.”
After making $1.095 million last season, Janssen had been seeking $2.2 million from arbitration, while the Blue Jays had countered with an offer of $1.8 million.
By locking up Janssen — the only arbitration-eligible player left unsigned — the Blue Jays have yet to go all the way with a player since Bill Risely in 1997.
Once arbitration numbers have been submitted, the Blue Jays have a club policy of cutting off negotiations with the player — except for those on long-term deals.
Anthopoulos first approached Janssen with the idea during the Blue Jays recent Winter Tour at which Janssen said any uncertainty over his future in Toronto turned to excitement.
“You never know what is going to happen,” he said. “There’s always a little bit of excitement and comfort in that there’s a guarantee, but like I said, the future for the Blue Jays is bright and that really appealed to me.”
Having been with the Jays since 2006, Janssen has seen his share of ups (a 2.35 ERA and 1.197 WHIP in 70 appearances in 2007) and downs (labrum surgery in 2008 and an early-season demotion last season) and he is eager where the road takes him in 2012.
“I use the analogy that once you build a car, you want to be able to drive it,” he said. “I felt like we’re getting to that point and the car is getting built. You kinda want to go take it for a spin.
“I want to win. I want to win so bad,” he added. “Hanging out in Toronto for a few more years is going to be great.”
