Jays sign shortstop David Eckstein

[Halladay_is_God]

TSN : MLB - Canada's Sports Leader

TORONTO - The Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to terms on a contract with free-agent shortstop David Eckstein.

A source tells The Canadian Press that the one-year deal is worth US$4.5 million. It will be finalized after Eckstein passes a physical.

Eckstein spent the past three seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals. He was the 2006 World Series MVP.

Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi has long admired the way he plays.

It's likely that the 31-year-old would become the team's everyday shortstop, relegating incumbent John McDonald to a backup role.

Eckstein offers a better bat but McDonald is stronger defensively.

There have been concerns about McDonald's durability. He signed a US$3.8-million, two-year contract in September.

Eckstein batted a career-high .309 for the Cardinals last season with three homers, 31 RBIs and 10 stolen bases.

Now this is a signing that I like, finally gives the Jays a starter at the SS position that can hit the ball.

[DirtyKash]

Not too bad. You guys have two World Series MVPs on your team now.

[Halladay_is_God]

its a good improvement over McDonald at least

[DirtyKash]

McDonald is elite defensively, Eckstein's equal, pretty much

[Halladay_is_God]

Eckstein can bat lead off which the Jays hate to have for some reason, like a good SS or C. since the last true lead-off hitter was probably Ricky in 93.

[Foster]

I was shocked when I discovered this information. In fact, I read about this before looking at the "names" that came out on this day.

well done, J.P.

[mntwinsfan]

Damn all the luck. Twins wanted Eckstein or at least thats what was being talked about. To bad Smith did not get the job done. Good move for the Jays!

[brewersfan19]

I like this signing!! He is a good hard-nosed player and does the little things to win.

[McKain]

McDonald is elite defensively, Eckstein's equal, pretty much

Eckstein is horrible defensively.

[DirtyKash]

I stand corrected about Eckstein then. McDonald's damn good though.

[love_that_reefer]

Eckstein really isn't horrible defensively but he's no McDonald with the glove. Eck makes all the plays and makes up for his lack of arm strength. People just say he's horrible because of his size. Eck in a couple of years will have to move to second.

[McKain]

Eckstein has no range and no arm strength. He doesn't "make up" for his lack of arm strength, because he's not good enough at any other aspect of the defensive game to make up for it.

People don't say he's horrible because of his size, they say he's horrible because he's not quick on a ground ball, he can't cover a lot of ground, he has a god damn noodle arm and doesn't have the strength to throw out anyone fast on a grounder to short, the guy has to put his whole body into every throw just to make sure he gets a routine play done.

[love_that_reefer]

Eck gets to the plays and has better than average defensive stats. Eck makes the plays and is extremely quick with his hands which gives him time to make up for his weak arm. He doesn't make a lot of errors and does a better job than most. Agree to disagree but I have watched Eck on a regular basis and know what he can do. He is in no way horrible on defense. Horrible on defense is Klesko in the OF, Knoblauch at second or Braun at third. He is declining if you want to go that route.

[brewersfan19]

He may make his share of mistakes, but he is a gamer and a winner. He has won 2 W.S. rings, and if memory serves me right, he was the MVP for the Cards in their W.S. championship. He is a tough out, good base runner, he has the intangibles like some of the elite SS's in the MLB, just is not as glamourous.

[McKain]

If you watch him regularly and still think he's good, you're not paying much attention. Or you're blind.

He used to be a pretty solid shortstop. He never had the arm, but he used to be quick enough to make plays, he had better range because he had a better first step. But he's not as fast as he used to be, and he's lost that quick jump. By losing a step, he doomed himself, because as everyone agrees with - his arm is garbage, and probably the worst middle infielder arm in the game.

UZR is arguably the best defensive stat currently available (and even I admit it's still nothing special and is probably just as flawed as most other D-stats), and it put Eck as the third worst defensive shortstop in the NL last year.