Report: Blue Jays extend Kirk to five-year, $58M deal

Catcher Alejandro Kirk and the Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a five-year, US$58-million contract Saturday night, according to several media reports. The deal also includes a $6 million signing bonus with no deferred money, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. The extension begins in 2026 and runs through the 2031 season. The Blue Jays and Kirk avoided arbitration last year with a $4.6-million deal for 2025. Kirk is looking to rebound in 2025 after slashing .253/.319/.359 with five home runs and 54 RBIs. He's shown improvement during Spring Training, batting .302/.354/.465 with an OPS of .819 in 48 plate appearances. According to Baseball Savant, Kirk ranked in the 93rd percentile in framing and 97th percentile in caught-stealing above average defensively in 2024. Kirk joins Randal Grichuk and José Berrios as the only players general manager Ross Atkins has extended for more than two years, according to Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith.