Toronto Blue Jays outfielder-first baseman Matt Stairs is enjoying his off-season.
That’s what a two-year, $3.5 million contract will do for you.
The Bangor resident is an assistant coach for the John Bapst High School hockey team and said knowing he has a job next season is a relief.
“When you’re turning 40 in February and you know you’re secure for the next two years, it makes things a lot easier in the off-season. You relax quite a bit. I love playing for the Blue Jays,” said Stairs, who hit .289 last season for the Blue Jays with 21 homers and 64 RBIS in just 357 at-bats.
The New Brunswick native has played for 10 teams in his 15-year major league career and will be featured coaching the Crusaders between periods of a Hockey Day in Canada broadcast on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation on Feb. 9.
“It was fun. They spent two days with me filming,” said Stairs, who is in his third season as an assistant. “There aren’t many major league baseball players coaching high school hockey and enjoying it as much as I do.”
He added that it’s great to get “John Bapst’s name out there.”
Stairs uses hockey as his off-season workout regimen. In addition to coaching, he plays in a league.
“Every body type is different,” explained Stairs. “The way I get ready is through hockey. I don’t pick up a bat or a ball. I try to save as much energy as I can for the season.
“I take enough slap shots to build up my oblique muscles [in the abdomen]. It’s also a good way for me to mentally prepare for the season because it takes my mind off baseball,” added Stairs.
He was “very happy” with his 2007 season especially considering the fact he didn’t have a homer or RBI in April.
“I’m not the type of guy who demands playing time,” said Stairs. “Whatever it takes to win a game, I’m going to do it. I’ve never set goals for myself. I go out and support the team as much as possible.”
Stairs played left field, right field and first base for the Jays last season and he was also used a designated hitter and a pinch-hitter.
“And I took a lot of ground balls at third base so I could play it in an emergency. It’s a big help when a veteran can play a lot of different positions. I was very pleased with the way I played defensively,” said Stairs.
The Blue Jays had an injury-marred 2007 season which prevented them from challenging the Red Sox and the Yankees.
“I think there were only three of us who were healthy all year. There were 13 off-season surgeries. It’s tough to win that way,” said Stairs.
The [George] Mitchell Report on performance-enhancing drugs, which cited more than 80 players, isn’t a major topic of discussion for Stairs.
“I don’t pay attention to it,” said Stairs.
He said players make choices and everybody tries to gain an edge. Some players may use steroids while others will try to steal signals or a pitcher might get a little sweat on a baseball “to make it move more.”
The Jays have obtained third baseman Scott Rolen and shortstop David Eckstein from the Cardinals. Their addition, plus the return to health of such Jays stars as center fielder Vernon Wells and pitchers Roy Halladay, Gustavo Chacin, A.J. Burnett and reliever B.J. Ryan, spells contender according to Stairs.
“We have every position filled and we have people who can come off the bench. I’m expecting a big year. When we’re healthy, we’re as good as anyone,” said Stairs, who has a .267 career average with 241 home runs and 815 RBIs in 1,541 games.
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