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They managed to get the deal done!
Speculation has been running rampant since November about whether the Riders would be able to retain both Emilus and Schaefer-Baker this offseason. That speculation ramped up when the Riders made Emilus the highest paid Canadian WR in the league. But to O’Day’s credit he found a way to get it done, signing Baker to a 2 year extension.
There was likely a team willing to pay more money to Baker. He’s an impact Canadian receiver after all. But Baker has never been quiet about his love for this province and his desire to stay. So he had to weigh whether the “more” he could make would be significant enough to make it worth it to leave a great situation and place he loves. Obviously O’Day found a number close enough to Baker’s ask that it was not worth testing free agency. I have no doubt that presence of Mace and Harris is a damn good recruiting tool.
Do I think Baker could have made more money? Yes. Do I think it would have been a significant amount? No. Teams don’t exactly back up trucks of money for players that have missed 26 of a possible 54 regular season games over the past 3 seasons. Love Baker but durability is a concern.
I am an unabashed Baker fan so I am very happy that he will be staying. As iconic as this pose is, I didn’t want it to be his last moment in green and white.
The Riders also extended Lake Korte-Moore. Keeping our Canadian core is important and prior to his injury last season Korte-Moore had been developing into an effective rotational pass rusher. They also extended Jack Coan who they remain very high on as a QB prospect.
With both Stevens and Coan locked up it brings into question whether Maier will be back. I think that decision is entirely Maier’s. I believe O’Day has made him an offer to return as the back-up and its up to him to see if he can find something better. I am not sure he will. There are no starter jobs up for grabs, so you gotta ask yourself where what the best back-up spot is. And honestly we have to top that list. Is there any QB more likely to not make a full season than old man Harris? And is it worth risking learning a whole new offense for a chance to maybe back-up someone else?
1 comment:
Be interesting what your Monday column is tomorrow. My thoughts on the Riders after the GC this year was, with all the old players they had on board, it was a little bit like 2013 all over again. With 44 free agents this was going to be a difficult free agency.
There is not much to choose between the 5 clubs that finished with 10-12 wins this year. And with the over-representation of Riders on the All-Star squads that wasn't doing the team any favours. Assuming the offers on the table hold, day 1 proved to be a fertile hunting ground in Regina & Hamilton. The REDBLACKS again are loading up as in any year. The Elks, meanwhile, had few players available & locked up pretty much the ones they wanted. And I have noticed that they have been extending all those young players through 2027. Smart
I shudder to to think what the next few days will bring. As I said, DEJA VU.
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