George Springer picked the Blue Jays because ‘this team is made to win’

Springer would not discuss the interests of the Mets, or any other team. But in seven years at Houston, plus three in the minor leagues, Springer has shown he is more than capable of thriving a considerable distance from his home country.

“It’s only a short plane flight, if I really, really want to,” he said of his trip to Connecticut. “And we play in the AL East, and it’s pretty close to home. But at the end of the day, I wanted to go where I thought I was going to be happy, and I believe I am.

Last year, the Blue Jays played their home games in Buffalo after Canada restricted travel across the border due to the coronavirus pandemic. The same is likely to be true in 2021, at least for the start of the season, and it is not yet clear where the Blue Jays will play at home. Springer dismissed this as a concern, along with the other issues that led elite free agents to sign elsewhere.

“You hear a lot about travel and all that,” he says. “But the reality is, it really didn’t bother me at all.”

At Springer, the Blue Jays are getting one of the most comprehensive offsets in the game as the club look to challenge the Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays in their division. In his seven years at Houston, Springer never led the league in any of the best offensive categories, at least not until the playoffs, when he shone.

He was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2017 World Series, in which he hit .379 with five homers and three doubles as the Astros won their first title. In 63 total playoff games, Springer has 19 home runs, tied with Albert Pujols for fourth place on the career home run list. His ability to produce when the stakes are highest is something the Blue Jays see as more than a fluke. While recent player analysis tends to focus more on their production over the long run of a full 162-game regular season, the Blue Jays noted that they highly value Springer’s strong record in October.

“Players who are prepared and take the competition, and who have an elite desire to win, will fall back on preparation and be up to the occasion,” said Atkins. “George did this, and it particularly appealed to us.”