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Jesse Joe · 11-03-2007, 10:32 AM

THE CANADIAN PRESS
Matt Stairs

Stairs inks $3.25M deal with Jays

N.B. slugger signs two-year deal to stay in Toronto

THE CANADIAN PRESS Published Saturday November 3rd, 2007
Appeared on page C1

TORONTO - His first multi-year deal in nearly a decade, a prominent role with the 2008 Toronto Blue Jays and the chance to finish out his career in Canada was pretty much all Matt Stairs could have asked for in his latest contract.

One request the Fredericton native didn't make was that the US$3.25 million, two-year agreement he signed Friday be paid in Canadian dollars rather than the American greenback.
"I suppose I should have with the Canadian money being higher now," the 39-year-old quipped on a conference call from his home in Bangor, Maine.
"Nah, I'm just glad it's over with, glad the talks are done and now we can get under way with winning some games up in Toronto again."
The Blue Jays feel the same way after aggressively working to get Stairs back in tow to share left field duties with Reed Johnson, play a little first base when needed and offer a big stick off the bench the rest of the time.
There was at least one other team seriously interested in the veteran slugger, but they never stood a chance. His only other multi-year deal was a $5.275-million, two-year contract covering 1999 and 2000 with the Oakland Athletics.
He's signed seven one-year deals since.
"Other deals had to be just unbelievable for me not to return to Toronto," said Stairs. "And with Toronto offering me a two-year deal, it's hard to say no."
Stairs' first season with the Blue Jays was one to remember as he hit .289 with 21 homers and 64 RBIs in 125 games. He came up north on an $850,000, contract to be the team's fourth outfielder last December, but became an integral part of the club as injuries to several regulars mounted.
He ended up getting 357 at-bats, far more than expected, and showed he had plenty more left in him than simply being a bat off the bench.
That's why Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi didn't mind giving Stairs a front-loaded contract. He'll make $2.25 million in 2008 and $1 million in 2009, when he's expected to become a role player and Adam Lind is projected to take over left field.
"Matt knows he's going play, probably the same amount of at-bats he had this year, which would be great for us," said Ricciardi. "We want to have the same kind of guy back and probably not give him more at-bats.
"I think right around 250 to 350, 400, 450 tops, with him and Reed out there I think we're pretty solid."

11-03-2007, 10:32 AM	#48
Jesse Joe Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 6,862	Re: Red Sox Nation Rules!!!!! THE CANADIAN PRESS Matt Stairs Stairs inks $3.25M deal with Jays N.B. slugger signs two-year deal to stay in Toronto THE CANADIAN PRESS Published Saturday November 3rd, 2007 Appeared on page C1 TORONTO - His first multi-year deal in nearly a decade, a prominent role with the 2008 Toronto Blue Jays and the chance to finish out his career in Canada was pretty much all Matt Stairs could have asked for in his latest contract. One request the Fredericton native didn't make was that the US$3.25 million, two-year agreement he signed Friday be paid in Canadian dollars rather than the American greenback. "I suppose I should have with the Canadian money being higher now," the 39-year-old quipped on a conference call from his home in Bangor, Maine. "Nah, I'm just glad it's over with, glad the talks are done and now we can get under way with winning some games up in Toronto again." The Blue Jays feel the same way after aggressively working to get Stairs back in tow to share left field duties with Reed Johnson, play a little first base when needed and offer a big stick off the bench the rest of the time. There was at least one other team seriously interested in the veteran slugger, but they never stood a chance. His only other multi-year deal was a $5.275-million, two-year contract covering 1999 and 2000 with the Oakland Athletics. He's signed seven one-year deals since. "Other deals had to be just unbelievable for me not to return to Toronto," said Stairs. "And with Toronto offering me a two-year deal, it's hard to say no." Stairs' first season with the Blue Jays was one to remember as he hit .289 with 21 homers and 64 RBIs in 125 games. He came up north on an $850,000, contract to be the team's fourth outfielder last December, but became an integral part of the club as injuries to several regulars mounted. He ended up getting 357 at-bats, far more than expected, and showed he had plenty more left in him than simply being a bat off the bench. That's why Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi didn't mind giving Stairs a front-loaded contract. He'll make $2.25 million in 2008 and $1 million in 2009, when he's expected to become a role player and Adam Lind is projected to take over left field. "Matt knows he's going play, probably the same amount of at-bats he had this year, which would be great for us," said Ricciardi. "We want to have the same kind of guy back and probably not give him more at-bats. "I think right around 250 to 350, 400, 450 tops, with him and Reed out there I think we're pretty solid."