August 23, 2022

By Danny Gallagher

Canadian Baseball Network

Don't wait for spring. Do it now.

Somebody coined that phrase decades ago. In other words, don't procrastinate. Show initiative and incentive to get something done quickly, not months down the road. Don't just talk, do something. Don't think about it.

I'm directing this at Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro and general manager Ross Atkins as it pertains to pitcher Alek Manoah. I'm just a backburner reporter not on the Jays beat but I'm suggesting they sign Manoah pronto to a long-term extension before the end of this season.

Not in the spring at spring training.

Now.

He isn't eligible for salary arbitration until 2025 and is under the control of management as a pre-arbitration player but do something along the lines of what the Atlanta Braves did with Michael Harris II, who signed for eight years and $72-million earlier this month with little service time under his belt.

Sign Manoah for eight years and let's say $90-million to cover his remaining pre-arb years, his arbitration tenure and several years of free agency. The intent of this kind of deal is that it works out for both sides.

Manoah's excellent, ballsy pitching and larger-than-life personality make him a great fit for a deal.

Anybody who tells Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole to "walk past the Audi sign the next time'' for some possible jostling, grappling or a few rounds of fisticuffs has the guts and gumption that management must love.

The Jays have a talented group making a spirited bid for the playoffs so Shapiro and Atkins will probably take a timid approach to Manoah and not do what Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos (Montreal, Que.) did in signing the Harris kid. I bet they will wait -- until spring.

Shapiro and Atkins have other key players to sign long-term in Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Montreal, Que.), Teoscar Hernandez and Bo Bichette. Even outstanding closer Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.).

For now, I'm thinking they should sign Manoah.

But who am I?

I'm just a backburner reporter.