Elliott: Boras called seven-year deal for a Blue Jay after seeing Maple Leaf get seven

The Blue Jays signed San Diego Padres free agent RHP Dylan Cease to a seven-yea deal.

News item: The Blue Jays signed free-agent RHP Dylan Cease to a seven-year $210 million deal. Super agent Scott Boras called it ... 11 years ago.

Originally published Oct. 28, 2014.

Super agent Scott Boras wondered why Rogers Communications, part owner of the Maple Leafs, can offer seven-year deals to free agents, while it’s against the policy of the Toronto Blue Jays, owned by Rogers Communications. He says if Rogers approves such contracts for hockey players, it should be good news for Jays fans.

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By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

SAN FRANCISCO -- Scott Boras was doing what most males watching TV do.

The super agent was flipping stations with his remote when he stumbled upon the HBO hockey series 24/7 which took viewers inside the locker room for a look at the Toronto Maple Leafs.

That’s when Boras learned that the Leafs had given defenceman Dion Phaneuf, a seven-year $49 million CDN contract extension.

“First thing I thought was ... great news for Toronto Blue Jays fans,” said Boras at AT&T to watch Game 5 of the 110th World Series before Madison Bumgarner shut out the Royals 5-0.

Rogers Communications owns 37.5% of the Maple Leafs.

Rogers Communications owns 100% of the Blue Jays.

“If they can give one of their hockey players a seven-year deal, why can’t they give a seven-year deal to a ball player?” asked Boras. “If they have the same ownership in both the hockey team and the ball club, shouldn’t it follow that the Jays should be using the free-agent market as a weapon in order to compete?

“Being in the free-agent market would allow them to fulfill their needs.”

The Leafs also signed free agent David Clarkson to a seven-year $36.75 million going into the 2013-14 season.

The last time the Jays were in the market for a prime free agent and won was after the 2005 season when general manager J.P. Ricciardi signed both RHP A.J. Burnett and RP B.J. Ryan to five-year deals (Burnett for $55 million, Ryan for $47 million).

And in 2006, the Jays gave Vernon Wells, already under contract, a seven-year $126 million extension.

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R.I.P. Oscar: St. Louis Cardinals prospect Oscar Taveras was killed in a car accident in the Dominican Republic Sunday night. Taveras, 22, and his girlfriend were involved in a fatal crash driving between Sosua and his home of Puerto Plata. He spent his early teen-age years in Montreal and held a Canadian passport. The family returned to the Dominican so he could sign after his 16th birthday rather than waiting until grade 12 and the amateur draft.

The highly-respected Baseball America rated Taveras as the No. 3 prospect in the minors heading into the final two seasons. Promoted May 31 this season, he hit .239 with three home runs and 22 RBIs in 80 games.

The left-handed hitter was the final hitter in the Cardinals season, grounding back to Jeremy Affeldt to end the ninth with the score tied, before Travis Ishikawa hit a walk-off homer to send the Giants to the World Series.

Earlier, Taveras hit a pinch-hit, game-tying, homer off Giants reliever Jean Machi in Game 2.

Sympathies are extended to his father, who lives in Montreal, and all of his friends, as well as his extended family in the Dominican.