Sources: BlueJays in agreement with Viciedo.

[L54]

I honestly don't believe he has to do too much to end up on the 25 though. A lot of what that RaBBit guy said is the reason. He's an effort guy who looks great at times.

 

I do think that fans are missing the biggest of the stories here. This is the first contract with a Scott Boras client since "The Paxton Incident" which makes me think Beeston really is out already.

 

He doesn't. But if Saunders hadn't been injured he isn't even in the equation. LF has now become almost bullpen esque- stockpiling depth and hoping something sticks.

 

I'm not by any means remotely excited about this signing, but what does excite me is that someone in the Blue Jay FO is smart enough to realize they couldn't simply rely on what they had. Whether Viciedo has any impact remains to be seen, but if this (injury to a starter) had happened years prior I'm pretty confident AA would've said f*** it and rolled the dice with whatever was within the org.

 

Does make not signing Rickie Weeks even more puzzling now, though. They must be pretty confident in Travis.

[Laika]

apparently Viciedo and Boras split up earlier this month

[Laika]

[baloojayz]

Isn't this guy basically Juan Francisco that can play left? Id be pumped if I wasnt confused @ 2.5 M???

 

I thought we were out of cash...would have gotten a reliever for that. Casey Janssen???

Anyway I guess the Saunders injury scared everyone and something had to be done.

 

Oh and lol btw Navarro and this guy thats 7.5 M = Lind...so much for saving cash

Edited March 1, 2015 by baloojayz

[WryNGinger]

What are the chances that this really is a Buffalo signing? It doesn't seem like AA would go after this type of player if he thought that the player would have no chance at the Jays roster does it? If we assume that he has a chance at being on the 25 man roster then what type of trade would need to happen before he makes it? Who would need to go before this guy has a chance to see PA's in Toronto? Is this signing and the Santana one just so he can say he was busy trying to improve the club?

 

I read here a lot but don't post much because I am not as knowledgeable as most of you. This move I just can't figure out.

 

Cheers guys.

[Angrioter]

What are the chances that this really is a Buffalo signing? It doesn't seem like AA would go after this type of player if he thought that the player would have no chance at the Jays roster does it? If we assume that he has a chance at being on the 25 man roster then what type of trade would need to happen before he makes it? Who would need to go before this guy has a chance to see PA's in Toronto? Is this signing and the Santana one just so he can say he was busy trying to improve the club?

 

I read here a lot but don't post much because I am not as knowledgeable as most of you. This move I just can't figure out.

 

Cheers guys.

 

Good read.

Depth is so important, but Viciedo isn't the kind of depth I like. The guy is an unidimensional player who only bring pop to the mix, and he's not Nelly Cruz.

[fireballW]

Good read.

Depth is so important, but Viciedo isn't the kind of depth I like. The guy is an unidimensional player who only bring pop to the mix, and he's not Nelly Cruz.

 

I know it has been repeated but AA is the guy who got EE (worked out that trade). It was admitted by JP that AA made that deal happen before EE became a stud. Say what you want about EE going to waivers, but AA clearly believed and got him back. AA said each new year about the potential they thought he had.

 

I like this signing. It'd be cool to give him a chance to compete for a job. I like that he really doesn't strike out a crazy high amount. If he walked a bit more he'd be pretty close to Jose Abreu with his k/bb ratios. He isn't like a Francisco who can hardly make contact with the ball. I like the idea of Smoak more but I can see the thinking of letting Bautista and EE get around this guy and see if there could be an influence there.

[shortstop]

Wryn, my initial thoughts were AA did this to say he's doing something.

 

But imo, so long as these 2 guys start at triple A, view it as low risk depth & prudent really. My hope is, short of truly earning a call up, that neither see any MLB action with the jays.

[flafson]

Problem is, we suppose to compete this year, if you give him a shot, you essentially take away from the team.

[Laika]

Another way to read it is as a DH insurance signing as if a Navarro deal is becoming more likely.

[TwistedLogic]

I love how someone is always unhappy. If the Jays do nothing, they're terrible at acquiring depth. When they acquire depth, the depth isn't good enough. When they acquire good depth, the thought that the depth will get regular playing time is so scary, that the Jays still suck.

[TheHurl]

 

am I still allowed to picture Beeston as dead though?

[Laika]

am I still allowed to picture Beeston as dead though?

 

whatever turns you on m8

[Laika]

I love how someone is always unhappy. If the Jays do nothing, they're terrible at acquiring depth. When they acquire depth, the depth isn't good enough. When they acquire good depth, the thought that the depth will get regular playing time is so scary, that the Jays still suck.

 

Well, I think the detractors would simply say that they don't think Tank is "good depth". Certainly BTS, the head of the naysayers, would call him bad depth because of his lack of present baseball skill.

 

In order for Viciedo to actually be "good depth" he would probably have to improve as a baseball player. He's been worth -0.1 fWAR in 1800 career PA, so the past and present version of Dayan getting playing time over someone even as mediocre as Pillar or Valencia could get pretty annoying.

 

And I don't think it's even fair to point to his career splits and say that in a platoon DH role he would be "good depth". See below:

 

One bad habit many of us might get into it looking at the platoon splits of two players at the same position, one with a career wOBA of .390 vs. RHP, the other with a career wOBA of .400 vs. LHP, and thinking, “Wow, that platoon would be almost as good as Ryan Braun!.” It isn’t that simple. As in most other things, regression shows us that the distance from average is closer than it appears. Technical explanations aside, I’ll simply summarize what is relevant for estimating platoon skills.

 

How much we regress depends on the variation of skill in the relevant population. The less variation there is, the more likely deviations from the mean are random occurrences. Practically speaking, left-handed hitters display more variation in platoon skill than right-handed hitters, so in estimating the platoon skills of left-handed hitter, we use less regression.* According to The Book, we regress lefties’ platoon skills against 1000 PA against LHP of league average splits for left-handed hitters, and righties against 2200 PA against LHP. This means that when hitters have less than 1000/2200 PAs vs LHP, we estimate their platoon skill to be closer to league average than to their observed platoon performance. In practical terms, it also means that for righties, we’re usually safe in assuming they have near-average platoon skills.

 

Viciedo has just under 500 career PA against lefties.

[gbill2004]

When I first read about this trade I was out at a buffet with my GF and I vomited all over my plate and our table. After sleeping on it, I'm becoming more comfortable with the trade.

[TheHurl]

I love how someone is always unhappy. If the Jays do nothing, they're terrible at acquiring depth. When they acquire depth, the depth isn't good enough. When they acquire good depth, the thought that the depth will get regular playing time is so scary, that the Jays still suck.

 

For me depth is not a body. It's thinking about certain injuries and having a player to place that person in for a short term. Viciedo's upside is one thing, a guy that can hit lefties but he plays a s***** OF and no other positions. Pillar is cheaper, upside is a guy that can hit lefties, play a decent OF and can fill in at CF. Even if they think Pillar is injured, as well as Saunders, it's still a guy that can't play CF. I don't mind any minor league deals but most have seen the M.O. of this front office and think this guy is going to get significant time. Best case scenario for the Jays (Viciedo starting the year like he did last season) is also likely a worst case scenario, as he'll buy himself a lot more playing time.

[Ehjays]

When I first read about this trade I was out at a buffet with my GF and I vomited all over my plate and our table. After sleeping on it, I'm becoming more comfortable with the trade.

 

No trade pal.....just a Milb deal.....sorry about the dinner

[TheHurl]

When I first read about this trade I was out at a buffet with my GF and I vomited all over my plate and our table. After sleeping on it, I'm becoming more comfortable with the trade.

 

You slept on a vomit stained buffet table?

[Ehjays]

You slept on a vomit stained buffet table?

 

LOL.....That was funny

[saskjayfan]

LOL.....That was funny

 

yeah...I was drinking coffee as I scrolled down the thread and literally had the cup almost to my mouth when I read hurl's comment...I now have a coffee stained t-shirt, but I'm at home, so no biggy.

[RealAccountant]

Isn't this guy basically Juan Francisco that can play left? Id be pumped if I wasnt confused @ 2.5 M???

 

I thought we were out of cash...would have gotten a reliever for that. Casey Janssen???

Anyway I guess the Saunders injury scared everyone and something had to be done.

 

Oh and lol btw Navarro and this guy thats 7.5 M = Lind...so much for saving cash

 

We just spent 6-8 mil on two minor league deals. That could have bought a decent reliever

 

Sigh

[TheHurl]

Viciedo has just under 500 career PA against lefties.

 

The first 210 PA's against lefties approximately 165 wRC...next 270 PA's 85 wRC.

[Ultimate]

We just spent 6-8 mil on two minor league deals. That could have bought a decent reliever

 

Sigh

 

We haven't spent anything on either of these deals.

[flafson]

We just spent 6-8 mil on two minor league deals. That could have bought a decent reliever

 

Sigh

 

2.5 + 2.5 is not 6-8...

[Ehjays]

2.5 + 2.5 is not 6-8...

 

I guess the RealAccountant needs to learn to add.

[KingKat]

Hurl's got a point. I felt the Boras thing was slowly dying when they drafted Hoffman, but I they were probably intent on picking him no matter who his agent was. This signing sort of reaffirms that notion though. You could argue it's a smaller signing so it means less, but we were convinced they wouldn't have even pursued a guy like Jeff Baker last year, so it's a step in the right direction.

 

What's the connection between Hoffman and Boras?

[jerb]

 

Richard Griffin

‏@RGriffinStar

Apparently quick return of Saunders to #bluejays has no influence on Viciedo who's competing with Smoak and Barton for 1B/DH rather than OF

 

 

Richard Griffin

‏@RGriffinStar

AA hinting about Viciedo's LF defensive ability: "there are scenarios where maybe his best position is first base, DH" #bluejays

[RealAccountant]

We haven't spent anything on either of these deals.

 

Budgets been allocated hasn't it.

[jayswin11]

I'm wondering if this also makes the Navarro trade more imminent.

[HERPDERP]

I think we were better off with Francisco than Viciedo..