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The sixth-year catcher was initially projected to hit the open market after next season. The new contract buys out his final year of arbitration and provides the Jays with a long-term solution behind the plate, where they lack high-value prospects in the minors.

Kirk’s deal matches the second-longest extension handed out by president Mark Shapiro and general manager Ross Atkins. Right-hander ´³´Ç²õéÌýµþ±ð°ù°ùí´Ç²õ previously signed a seven-year deal worth $131 million while former Jays outfielder Randal Grichuk received a five-year deal worth $52 million.

The extension will make Kirk the fifth-highest-paid catcher in the majors by 2026. His $11.6 million annual salary will trail Kansas City’s Salvador Perez ($20.5 million), Los Angeles’ Will Smith ($14 million), Atlanta’s Sean Murphy ($12.2 million) and Seattle’s Mitch Garver ($12 million). 

The Jays committed long term to Kirk primarily because of his defence. The 26-year-old ranked in the 98th percentile of all catchers last season in fielding run value, per . He also ranked in the 97th percentile for caught steals above average and the 93rd percentile for framing. 

The risk is that upcoming rule changes could negate some of that value. If Major League Baseball eventually moves to an automatic ball and strike system, it would limit the upside of Kirk’s ability to steal strikes with his elite pitch framing. Instead, most of his value would come in helping manager John Schneider decide when to challenge a call.

The ABS system was tested during this year’s spring training, but it’s still at least another year away from being used in the majors. If the technology is implemented as expected, Kirk’s value will be more limited to throwing out baserunners and guiding his pitchers through games. Until it arrives, they’ll lean on his pitch framing as well.

“Kirky’s got elite mental attributes,” Jays president Mark Shapiro told reporters last week. “Slows the game down as well as anybody I’ve seen … There’s almost nobody I can imagine I want to catch a bastard slider in the ninth inning with the tying run on third base, or be up at the plate, because he’s going to be (reliable).”

While the Jays have become enamoured with Kirk’s defence, he will also have to produce with the bat to justify his contract. Kirk’s best year came in 2022 when he hit .285 with a .786 on-base plus slugging percentage across 139 games. He was named to the all-star team and later earned a Silver Slugger award for his offensive contributions.

But success was harder to come by each of the last two seasons. Kirk has hit just .251 with a below-average .685 OPS since the start of 2023. He also hasn’t slugged for much power, with 13 combined homers over that span compared to 14 in 2022.

Kirk arrived at this year’s spring training in much better shape than previous years and the Jays are cautiously optimistic that will lead to better results. They’re quick to point to a strong camp in which he hit .302 with three extra-base hits in 43 at-bats. But he was even more impressive last spring with a .342 average and seven extra-base hits before he stumbled out of the gates.

Kirk was far from the highest-profile player on the Jays in need of a new deal. That honour belongs to Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who is set to become a free agent in October. Close behind is Bo Bichette, who is in the same situation. Max Scherzer, Chris Bassitt and Chad Green are among the others who will hit the open market.

Kevin Gausman, Daulton Varsho and the declining George Springer will be among those who follow suit next year.

Kirk was joins Berríos, second baseman Andrés Giménez and outfielder Anthony Santander as the only players signed beyond 2027.

Locking up Kirk is a nice piece of business for the Jays who lack depth at catcher. However, it’s not going to alter the long-term trajectory of this organization because as good as Kirk might be, there are better players on the roster who have yet to receive a similar guarantee.

One down, many more to go.