(Toronto) The Toronto Blue Jays have struck a deal with right-hander Kevin Gausman. The contract would be for five years and worth $ 110 million, according to what confirmed to The Associated Press a source familiar with the matter.
For now, the contract remains conditional on the result of a medical evaluation.
The 30-year-old Gausman was 14-6 with an earned-run average of 2.81 and 227 strikeouts in 192 innings of work with the San Francisco Giants last season.
His career record is 64-72, averaging 4.02 earned runs with the Baltimore Orioles, Atlanta Braves and Giants.
The Blue Jays had shown interest in Gausman’s services during the previous offseason, but he had preferred to bet on himself by accepting a one-year contract with the Giants. The rest will have proved him right.
With the new contract previously awarded to pitcher Jose Berríos, a seven-year deal for $ 131 million, the two deals are the most lucrative pitchers ever awarded in franchise history.
The Jays are betting on a young group of players full of talent and the management can afford to spend while waiting for its young stars like Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero son to demand in turn imposing salaries.
In addition to Gausman and Berríos, the Blue Jays’ starting rotation relies on ace Hyun-jin Ryu and youngster Alek Manoah.