Adam Lind staying a Blue Jay
The Toronto Blue Jays have signed OF Adam Lind to a 4 year contract worth $18 million dollars.
USA Today Article:
The Toronto Blue Jays signed outfielder Adam Lind (FSY) to a four-year, $18 million contract on Saturday.
The deal runs through 2013 and includes club options through the 2016 season.
The 26-year-old Lind, who hit .305 last year with 35 home runs and 114 RBIs, was happy to know he'd be with the team long term and could make Toronto his second home.
"It will mean a lot for my parents, for my future kids, just so they can do what they want and they can go to the schools that they want and they can breathe for the rest of their lives," Lind said before the Blue Jays' exhibition game against the Astros in Houston
Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos said the signing was "vital and critical" to the future of his young team.
"This is a great player to build around along with Vernon Wells (FSY) and Aaron Hill (FSY) and some of the other young players that we do have coming right now," Anthopoulos said. "Not only is it an indication to the fan base, but also to those other players in the clubhouse that this is the type of player that we want to make a commitment to."
Several of Lind's teammates, including Wells, missed the early part of batting practice to attend the news conference where the contract was announced. Lind thanked them several times and said it was "special" to have them there.
"We've got a good solid core and a bunch of draft picks coming in the system now this year and for years to come," said Lind, a .287 hitter who has spent his career in the Toronto organization.
Anthopoulos and Lind said this contract shows that team owner Rogers Communications Inc., is willing to spend to make the franchise successful again.
