The Toronto Blue Jays have added free agent shortstop Freddy Galvis on a one-year deal with a club option for 2020. The contract will pay Galvis a $4MM salary this year and the option year has a salary of $5.5MM that also comes with a $1MM buyout should the Blue Jays decline it. All told Galvis is guaranteed $5MM for one year but could earn a total of $9.5MM over two years should the club choose to pick up the option.
Galvis, 29, has been a consistent player over the past four years as he has appeared in at least 151 games each year while playing in every single game the past two seasons. Galvis is known more for his glove then his bat although he has some pop as he has hit 45 home runs over the past three seasons combined. Mostly a shortstop, Galvis also has 692.1 innings under his belt at second base as well as another 188 innings at third base over his career. He is a switch hitter and owns a career .246 batting average over seven seasons in which he played six for the Philadelphia Phillies and spent last year with the San Diego Padres after an off season trade.
The Blue Jays plans for Galvis are not immediately clear as they do already have Lourdes Gurriel Jr. who had an excellent rookie season last year as an option at shortstop. Devon Travis seems to be the lock at second base if he stays healthy and Brandon Drury should get the start at third base. Toronto also has top shortstop prospect Bo Bichette in the minors although he will likely stay there the majority of this season. No matter how things pan out, Galvis will bring a veteran leadership to the club and is capable of moving around the infield as he is versatile and has experience at all infield positions except first base.
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