Blue Jays Sign Daniel Vogelbach to Minor League Deal

[connorp]

Honest question, Max. Do you think Espy still has All-Star level play in him somewhere? Or could he?

[max silver]

Honest question, Max. Do you think Espy still has All-Star level play in him somewhere? Or could he?

 

He's been absolutely awful at the plate since about June of the 2022 season so it seems really unlikely he'll reach those heights again. He showed signs of coming around with the bat towards the end of the season but I think his best is behind him.

[TheHurl]

Daniel Vogelbach is driving a wedge in our previously harmonious message board. Imagine the damage he is going to do that clubhouse in Spring.

[Terminator]

With effective use of matchups and platooning I think the club can extract 2 wins if not more out of the third base position. If IKF can carry forward any of the improvements he showed for much of the season he may actually surprise us with a league average bat as he somehow managed to post a .750 OPS over a nearly 4 month stretch last season.

 

The minor league invitations simply aren't worth getting worked up about. If Escobar shows he has something left in the tank he can start against left handed pitching and add a touch of offense to the lineup. He's a low risk short term option that can be discarded at a moments notice. If Escobar makes the team then the small army of potential third base options in the minors (Martinez/Barger/Palmegiani/Lantigua etc.) can continue to hone their craft to prepare for their initial callups. If Vogelbach sticks then Horwitz simply shifts back to AAA to bide his time waiting for a callup. These are veteran players who have experienced success in the past and if they have good springs and end up helping the club that's a plus. It's more than likely each of them is released by the end of spring and given an attempt to catch on with another team.

 

I agree with all of this but we may run into 40 man roster problems if Escobar and/or Vogelbach make the 25-man.

 

The roster is screaming for a couple of trades right now. Some of the Sportsnet guys have alluded to an Espinal, Horwitz + prospect package that the Jays have been floating around. I'm sure Yimi Garcia and Richards are on the block as well. Moving some of those guys for prospects or consolidating them into a RHH OF would be good.

[Carlos Danger]

Daniel Vogelbach is driving a wedge in our previously harmonious message board. Imagine the damage he is going to do that clubhouse in Spring.

 

Message board? What kinda damage is he going to do to the cheese board in the clubhouse!???

[Sorrow]

If Vogalbach had any positional versatility he'd be a solid bench piece, 125 wRC+ career against righties. Career .362 OBP, .202 ISO, 24.4% K rate and a 16% BB rate. He also has a decent Savant page. Career he's like 99th percentile in walk rate, consistently in the red in barrel, sweet spot, chase, hard hit. I wouldn't be surprised if he makes the team out of spring training if he has a good spring with Horwitz in AAA getting some LF reps.

[Terminator]

If Vogalbach had any positional versatility he'd be a solid bench piece, 125 wRC+ career against righties. Career .362 OBP, .202 ISO, 24.4% K rate and a 16% BB rate. He also has a decent Savant page. Career he's like 99th percentile in walk rate, consistently in the red in barrel, sweet spot, chase, hard hit. I wouldn't be surprised if he makes the team out of spring training if he has a good spring with Horwitz in AAA getting some LF reps.

 

Yeah not playing the field is obviously the big knock against him but our team is filled with enough positional flexibility to take on a bat only guy.

 

Can't beat the MiLB deal either. Rowdy Tellez is a similar player and he got 3.2M guaranteed earlier this year.

[max silver]

I agree with all of this but we may run into 40 man roster problems if Escobar and/or Vogelbach make the 25-man.

 

The roster is screaming for a couple of trades right now. Some of the Sportsnet guys have alluded to an Espinal, Horwitz + prospect package that the Jays have been floating around. I'm sure Yimi Garcia and Richards are on the block as well. Moving some of those guys for prospects or consolidating them into a RHH OF would be good.

 

Ultimately the 40 man issue could be a good type of problem if it allows the team to consolidate redundant assets to shore up the 26 man roster.

[Spanky99]

It’s ok my friend. Take your shots. I’ve got some top notch stuff in the works and I’m in a good place with all that. Everything happens for a reason. Remind me to chime in when people are calling you disabled and a bum that doesn’t work:)

So much for civil rivalries.

 

Atta girl...

[Brownie19]

Rich coming from the guy who is literally the worst talent assessor and knows less about actually building a winning Team than any of the frequent posters on the board. Wouldn’t be the first time this has been pointed out either.

 

Go shout to the clouds about some broadcaster using the win stat or something.

 

Just take the L man. No minor league contract is 'bad'.

[deanmike]

I agree with all of this but we may run into 40 man roster problems if Escobar and/or Vogelbach make the 25-man.

 

The roster is screaming for a couple of trades right now. Some of the Sportsnet guys have alluded to an Espinal, Horwitz + prospect package that the Jays have been floating around. I'm sure Yimi Garcia and Richards are on the block as well. Moving some of those guys for prospects or consolidating them into a RHH OF would be good.

 

Not really. If Vogelbach earns a 26 man spot out of spring he will simply take Clement's 40 man spot because they would have to DFA him to make room on the 26 man for Vogelbach. Escobar there is almost no chance for him, maybe if I'm being as generous as possible I would say 2% chance at most.

[wamco]

Bench:

Kirk/jansen

Biggio

Clement

Vogelbach/horwitz

[deanmike]

Bench:

Kirk/jansen

Biggio

Clement

Vogelbach/horwitz

 

Yeah once the FO inevitably punts Espinal in a trade, Vogelbach and Clement could realistically both make the team. Horwitz with options though will probably be out of luck.

[Terminator]

This article does a pretty good job of discussing the roster and why we need a trade to clear the logjam. It also makes it seem like Escobar has a better chance to make the team than we think.

 

https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/surplus-of-infielders-creates-roster-complications-opportunity-for-blue-jays/

[Laika]

This article does a pretty good job of discussing the roster and why we need a trade to clear the logjam. It also makes it seem like Escobar has a better chance to make the team than we think.

 

https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/surplus-of-infielders-creates-roster-complications-opportunity-for-blue-jays/

 

I dunno, I feel like he's just a hedge. If they end up trading an infielder or two his chances go way up. This paragraph is just pure assumption and I think it's wrong:

 

So, that’s 11, with Escobar presumably having some assurances about making the roster, all things being equal, upping the tally to 12, leaving Santiago Espinal, Davis Schneider and Ernie Clement, who is out of options, vying for one final spot on the club.

 

I have trouble thinking that Toronto would slot Escobar ahead of multiple players who project better than him

[Terminator]

I dunno, I feel like he's just a hedge. If they end up trading an infielder or two his chances go way up. This paragraph is just pure assumption and I think it's wrong:

 

 

 

I have trouble thinking that Toronto would slot Escobar ahead of multiple players who project better than him

 

Yeah it would definitely take a trade but I could see a trade or two happening knowing that they can give Escobar a month to see if he can do something and if not he's getting let go and calling up Barger.

 

He's definitely a long shot to make the team though.

[Carlos Danger]

Just take the L man. No minor league contract is 'bad'.

 

If only I was arguing about the Jays giving out minor league contracts, you and I would be in agreement.

 

100% agree with your above statement.

 

My concern in all my posts is the MLB roster composition/current possibilities.

[deanmike]

This article does a pretty good job of discussing the roster and why we need a trade to clear the logjam. It also makes it seem like Escobar has a better chance to make the team than we think.

 

https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/surplus-of-infielders-creates-roster-complications-opportunity-for-blue-jays/

 

Rogers mouthpiece saying this about Escobar isn't nothing...

 

Jays might just be lower on Clement than public projections portray him and Espinal is probably getting traded, plus Horwitz has options. Would leave the 3 non C bench players as Vogelbach, Escobar and whoever isn't starting at 2B+3B between Schneider/Biggio/IKF.

[connorp]

Just take the L man. No minor league contract is 'bad'.

 

Dumb take as usual. If you need a 2b say, and you sign only guys to minor league contracts, wishing for lighting in a bottle, it’s bad if you’re a playoff team.

[Sorrow]

There’s been some rumblings on the interweb of an Espinal, Horwitz and prospect package out there for an OF. That would clear some of the 40 man roster space.

[deanmike]

There’s been some rumblings on the interweb of an Espinal, Horwitz and prospect package out there for an OF. That would clear some of the 40 man roster space.

 

You talking about the Austin Slater rumour, or is this something else?

[max silver]

Rogers mouthpiece saying this about Escobar isn't nothing...

 

Jays might just be lower on Clement than public projections portray him and Espinal is probably getting traded, plus Horwitz has options. Would leave the 3 non C bench players as Vogelbach, Escobar and whoever isn't starting at 2B+3B between Schneider/Biggio/IKF.

 

Assuming no moves were made to clear payroll space (I know this is really unlikely) where would the team's payroll stand if Escobar and Vogelbach make the opening day roster.

[jaysblue]

I dunno, I feel like he's just a hedge. If they end up trading an infielder or two his chances go way up. This paragraph is just pure assumption and I think it's wrong:

 

 

 

I have trouble thinking that Toronto would slot Escobar ahead of multiple players who project better than him

 

If Escobar has a respectable spring, I think he makes the team and shares playing time at 3B with IKF. He still offers some pop and if IKF is really awful in the early going with the bat, Escobar likely will start 60% of the time. It was always pretty clear that the Blue Jays needed another 3B who has some offensive ability with IKF in the fold. Escobar will have a short leash, so if he has an awful April, he is likely gone and someone like Barger gets called up.

[wamco]

Assuming no moves were made to clear payroll space (I know this is really unlikely) where would the team's payroll stand if Escobar and Vogelbach make the opening day roster.

 

Vogelbach gets 2m if he makes the team. I haven’t heard any details of Escobar deal

[BatFlip]

If Escobar has a respectable spring, I think he makes the team and shares playing time at 3B with IKF. He still offers some pop and if IKF is really awful in the early going with the bat, Escobar likely will start 60% of the time. It was always pretty clear that the Blue Jays needed another 3B who has some offensive ability with IKF in the fold. Escobar will have a short leash, so if he has an awful April, he is likely gone and someone like Barger gets called up.

 

I think Escobar will need to have an impressive spring in order to make the team. A respectable performance probably doesn't get him there unless the team makes some moves.

[Terminator]

I don't understand why any team entertains the thought of a 31 year old DH that has played in 8 seasons with career stats of a .220 BA with 80 HRs and 238 RBIs. A DH that can't hit and can't run, what's the point? Also, why doesn't he play the field, he's only 31, is it because he's obese?

 

He's not a good player but he's a specialist bench bat that can hit righties. Flawed players who do something really well and nothing else can still be decent bench players. In Vogelbach's case he can hit righties so he can pinch hit and start at DH against them once in a while.

[Spanky99]

There’s been some rumblings on the interweb of an Espinal, Horwitz and prospect package out there for an OF. That would clear some of the 40 man roster space.

 

That would be great, where are you reading this?

[Sorrow]

That would be great, where are you reading this?

 

Surprisngly I've seen it pop up on reddit and a bleacherreport forum that has a Jays insider who's been really accurate with leaked information for the past four or five offseasons.

[Spanky99]

Surprisngly I've seen it pop up on reddit and a bleacherreport forum that has a Jays insider who's been really accurate with leaked information for the past four or five offseasons.

 

I'm asking if you could link it, so I can read it, mate.

[Jays24]

Surprisngly I've seen it pop up on reddit and a bleacherreport forum that has a Jays insider who's been really accurate with leaked information for the past four or five offseasons.

 

This would literally be the best case scenario assuming the OF is good enough to warrant the move.