Blue Jays Solidify Rotation By Extending Morrow

The Toronto Blue Jays took another step towards retaining their core players, extending starting pitcher Brandon Morow for three years today. The deal is worth $20 million and goes through the 2014 season. There is a club option for 2015 worth $10 million. This deal really helps the Jays, with Morrow starting at arbitration raises in 2012 and 2013 before becoming a free agent after the 2013 season. He could have gotten probably in the neighborhood of $12 million in those two arbitration years, and probably would have gotten $10-13 million a year as a free agent, making the deal a bargain for the Jays. Despite ERAs above 4.00 in each of his two seasons in Toronto, Morrow has been a victim of bad luck, with strand rates under 70% and high BABIPs killing his ERA. Despite the high ERA, he's been worth 7.1 fWAR over the last two seasons with an xFIP right around 3.50. He's struck out more than a batter per inning in both seasons, and last season, increased his strikeout to walk r...