DUNEDIN - In his 10-year major league career, Steve Pearce believed he needed two things to be a trusted, every-day player: Good health and a manager who had his back.
As he eases his way from his latest injury and into life as a Blue Jay, the off-season acquisition believes he finally has the opportunity for both.
Signed to a two-year, $12.5 million U.S. deal in December, it was tempting then to view Pearce as a consolation prize for general manager Ross Atkins as other free-agent options fizzled.
There certainly was a risk given Pearce’s injury-interrupted professional life, making the signing a calculated gamble by the Jays.