
The Details
The Toronto Blue Jays re-upped Adam Lind to a 4 year contract that guarantees $16 million in salary. The deal could last up to 7 years if the Jays exercise the low-cost team options, brining the total deal to $38.5 million. Lind’s contract includes a small $600 K signing bonus and extends him into his arbitration seasons.
The Comparison

All-star and future MVP candidate Justin Upton also signed a pre-arbitration deal this off-season. Six seasons at $51.25 million. Comparison:
Justin Upton
MLB Service Time = 2.06
Born:8/25/1987
Last season: .300/.366/.532 (.899 OPS), 26 HR, 30 2B, 20 SB
2010: $500,000
2011: $4.25 million
2012: $6.75 million
2013: $9.75 million
2014: $14.25 million
2015: $14.5 million
($1.25 signing bonus)
Adam Lind
MLB Service Time = 2.085
Born: 7/17/83
Last season: .305/.370/.562 (.932 OPS), 35 HR, 46 2B, 1 SB
2010: $400,000
2011: $5 million
2012: $5 million
2013: $5 million
Club Based Option Years
2014: $7 million (or $2 million buy-out)
2015: $7.5 million
2016: $8 million
($600,000 signing bonus)
Going forward Upton has more upside and plays an above average RF. On the other hand Lind mashed out a .932 OPS while playing against three tough pitching staffs in an unbalanced AL East scheduling environment. Also in Lind’s favour is the option portion of his contract. If for some reason he begins to seriously regress the Jays can walk away for the low cost of $2 million. The Diamondbacks are locked into Upton until 2015, with the final two seasons at $14+ million salaries.
Serious Win for AA and the Jays
While this is probably more of a media ploy, the Jays can now advertise to prospective free agent hitters some serious line-up protection for the foreseeable future, as both Lind and Hill are locked in until at least 2014 (if club options are exercised).
With recent arbitration rulings netting players higher and higher salaries this deal was a no-brainer from the Jays perspective. I really have to question what Lind and his agent were thinking when they signed this deal?