SPRINGER LEAVES ASTROS FOR BLUE JAYS

Former Astros’ Outfielder George Springer and the Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a six-year, $150 million contract.

Springer is headed to the Blue Jays' spring training facility in Dunedin, Florida, for a physical.

The contract would be the largest given out by the Blue Jays in franchise history.

Springer, the spark plug for the Astros’ ' offense in the leadoff spot for the past four seasons, was one of the most coveted free agents on the market this offseason.

He hit a team-high 14 home runs last season and added another four in the postseason.  He hit .265 with 32 RBIs in 51 games in 2020 while lowering his strikeout rate to 17.1%, a career best.

Before the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Springer hit 20 home runs in five of the previous six campaigns. He earned three straight All-Star nods, from 2017 to 2019, and was named World Series MVP in 2017, when the Astros beat the Dodgers in seven games.

Since making his debut in 2014, Springer has been one of the best hitters out of the leadoff spot in all of baseball, ranking second in home runs (136), third in RBIs (352) and fourth in hits (665) and extra-base hits (254). He also has hit a first-inning leadoff home run 39 times during his career, which ranks fourth in American League history.