Sources: BlueJays in agreement with Viciedo.

[burlingtonbandit]

Think of it as a stock option. If Viciedo's stock (skill) goes up, then, and only then, do you exercise the option.

 

But his stock isn't going to go up by enough in one ST month for it to justify the option.

[Orgfiller]

It's not merely a minor league deal though. It's a minor league deal tied to a 2.5. million dollar poison pill. If the deal becomes bad the second you use the player, what's the point?

 

It's not like the 2.5 MM is a whole lot though. It only comes if the Jays think he can be above replacement level, and he only needs to be worth less than half a win in order for the deal not to be a disaster. That's like two or three Juan Francisco-esque hot weeks.

[Laika]

But his stock isn't going to go up by enough in one ST month for it to justify the option.

 

Why can't he start the year in Buffalo?

[G-Snarls]

But his stock isn't going to go up by enough in one ST month for it to justify the option.

 

But they can have him start the season in AAA if they want

[burlingtonbandit]

Why can't he start the year in Buffalo?

 

judging by AA's comments he would be released to find a MLB job if he doesn't make the team out of ST.

[Laika]

judging by AA's comments he would be released to find a MLB job if he doesn't make the team out of ST.

 

Where did he say or imply that? (link)

[gbill2004]

Where did he say or imply that? (link)

Here: http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/viciedo-signing-gives-blue-jays-plenty-options/.

[burlingtonbandit]

Where did he say or imply that? (link)

 

"But the understanding is that he’s here to see if he can make the club, and if he doesn’t make the club then we’ll talk to him and his agent (Scott Shapiro). We have a good relationship with him," explained Anthopoulos. "We have quite a few bodies for triple-A right now anyways. Even though he doesn’t have anything in his contract, there’s an understanding there that we’ll do the right thing for the player."

 

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/viciedo-signing-gives-blue-jays-plenty-options/

[Laika]

"But the understanding is that he’s here to see if he can make the club, and if he doesn’t make the club then we’ll talk to him and his agent (Scott Shapiro). We have a good relationship with him," explained Anthopoulos. "We have quite a few bodies for triple-A right now anyways. Even though he doesn’t have anything in his contract, there’s an understanding there that we’ll do the right thing for the player."

 

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/viciedo-signing-gives-blue-jays-plenty-options/

 

Still a decent chance that the contract is a vehicle to try to get him to Buffalo. The lack of an actual opt-out speaks to this.

 

They have a month to convince Viciedo that it's good for his career to go the Buffalo, and Viciedo has a month to convince the team that it's good for them to have him in Toronto.

[bendera3]

Think of it as a stock option. If Viciedo's stock (skill) goes up, then, and only then, do you exercise the option.

 

I think the concern is that AA is done finding outfield options and if Saunders can't make it back in a month and Viciedo has even a decent spring that Viciedo will make the team and get overpaid to play a bad left field and then when Saunders returns, be useless off the bench because of his lack of defensive versatility (any position really).

[burlingtonbandit]

If Smoak doesn't perform I actually really like Barton for the 1B job.

[KingKat]

Still a decent chance that the contract is a vehicle to try to get him to Buffalo. The lack of an actual opt-out speaks to this.

 

They have a month to convince Viciedo that it's good for his career to go the Buffalo, and Viciedo has a month to convince the team that it's good for them to have him in Toronto.

 

I sure hope you're right and that the end game is to convince him to go to Buffalo otherwise it's basically the Moises Sierra scenario all over again.

[reedjohnsonfan]

I think the concern is that AA is done finding outfield options and if Saunders can't make it back in a month and Viciedo has even a decent spring that Viciedo will make the team and get overpaid to play a bad left field and then when Saunders returns, be useless off the bench because of his lack of defensive versatility (any position really).

 

They're giving him a look at 1B/3B. I really think he's competing with Smoak. If he could be used as a sort of an emergency 3B/LF and play some 1B passably he could be the more useful guy to have on the roster.

[KingKat]

If he could be used as a sort of an emergency 3B/LF and play some 1B passably he could be the more useful guy to have on the roster.

 

Except that you already have a guy who fits that profile in Danny Valencia who also happens to be out of options and has to make the team or be lost.

[reedjohnsonfan]

Except that you already have a guy who fits that profile in Danny Valencia.

 

Agree, although he has quite a bit more offensive upside than Valencia. It seems that because Navarro will get to DH a lot, they might be trying to add a guy with a bit more versatility than Smoak. It would be better if they got someone who hit left handed but I guess they couldn't find a fit.

[Spoonovic]

I think Valencia has more offensive upside (as a platoon bat). His raw power is actually insane. You should see him in BP. Definitely more than Viciedo.

 

I saw the Jays BP twice last year and both times Valencia was the most impressive. He hits home runs like nothing in BP.

[RealAccountant]

If Smoak doesn't perform I actually really like Barton for the 1B job.

 

You gotta think.one of them.is going to.click

[CrackerJack]

I saw the Jays BP twice last year and both times Valencia was the most impressive. He hits home runs like nothing in BP.

 

Juan Francisco was the king of BP last season.

[saskjayfan]

But his stock isn't going to go up by enough in one ST month for it to justify the option.

 

spring training is hard to judge a guy. Players have great spring trainings and then are crap in the regular season. If dayan plays well in spring, you take the gamble and see if he can carry it to the regular season. 2.5 mil for one year doesn't hurt the financial flexibility for the club moving forward. We're lower in payroll to start the season than what most thought we would be anyways.

[Ehjays]

judging by AA's comments he would be released to find a MLB job if he doesn't make the team out of ST.

 

If Viciedo fails to make the Blue Jays’ Opening Day roster and winds up at Triple-A Buffalo, he will receive $20K per month

the Jays probably release him but if there is nothing else out there thats what he gets paid

[burlingtonbandit]

If Viciedo fails to make the Blue Jays’ Opening Day roster and winds up at Triple-A Buffalo, he will receive $20K per month

 

so? Any MLB contract even for league min. is way better than 20k/month.

[Ehjays]

so? Any MLB contract even for league min. is way better than 20k/month.

 

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/viciedo-signing-gives-blue-jays-plenty-options/

[ElNik2013]

I know Pillar is an OF and I forget that Navarro is a switch hitter because he's stronger from the right side. My point is that the team has potentially plenty of right-handed part time players who can DH against left-handers, all of which have more defensive versatility and make for a better allocation of roster spot than Viciedo. Meanwhile, the team doesn't have many left-handed options. Add to that the fact that the offensive core of the team (Bautista, Donaldson, Encarnacion) is heavily right-handed and it's hard to understand why Viciedo would be in direct competition with a lefty and a switch hitter.

 

 

 

He IS redundant and inferior to Valencia and I don't really like the player at all, but I won't get worked up over a minor league deal, especially this early in ST and with the off season AA had.

 

It's a free look at a 25 year old who has power...and only power, lol. We'll have to wait and see how things transpire.

[KingKat]

He IS redundant and inferior to Valencia and I don't really like the player at all, but I won't get worked up over a minor league deal, especially this early in ST and with the off season AA had.

 

It's a free look at a 25 year old who has power...and only power, lol. We'll have to wait and see how things transpire.

 

I suppose if he makes the team we can have this argument all over again. Might as well wait until then. For now, I'll just second what BTS said which is that the signing makes me nervous. We've seen bench spots given to this type of player before. I hope we don't see it again.

[ElNik2013]

I suppose if he makes the team we can have this argument all over again. Might as well wait until then. For now, I'll just second what BTS said which is that the signing makes me nervous. We've seen bench spots given to this type of player before. I hope we don't see it again.

 

 

 

I get what you're saying and the signing does make me nervous also. However, several of us have been way wrong about what we expected AA to do this off season so I remain hopeful that it's just a free look and not much more and than that. You also have to look at the fact that AA has almost flat-out said he's not there to play OF, so that's a positive, at least in that they recognize his awful D.

[flafson]

Seems like a good deal, it essentially lets him spend the year in Buffalo trying to force his way up.

[KingKat]

Seems like a good deal, it essentially lets him spend the year in Buffalo trying to force his way up.

 

Not necessarily. The may cut him loose at the end of the spring. There's no formal opt out but AA's comments imply that he won't be forced to stay if he doesn't want to.

[shortstop]

That's ultimately why I see Viciedo as not an option - not a left handed bat.

 

But I'll give AA the benefit of the doubt on this one & he views Viciedo as a project.

 

Even with Saunders playing, I'm concerned with the LH hitting options - and ultimately don't like 2-5 in the batting order as RH bats.

 

Guess we'll find out how this turns out.

[RealAccountant]

He could easily have an excellent spring training considering how many scrubs pitch in it not to mention pitchers are just trying to get their stuff right

 

This isnt like Santana. In Santanas case if he is healthy you bring him on regardless of results.

 

Waste of $2.5 Mil and will cost us a game or two

[guylaroche5]

I don't approve of the deal but I don't think it's cause to get melodramatic, I'll file this under the "I don't really care" variety