Blue Jays Sign Vladimir Guerrero

Free Agent Signing: The Toronto Blue Jays have signed outfielder/DH Vladimir Guerrero to a minor league contract worth $1.3 million if he gets called up to the major leagues sometime during the season. Guerrero will start his season in extended spring training, and if he succeeds and looks good there, he could play a few minor league games to prove that he's still capable of hitting live pitching. Guerrero has 2,590 career hits, 449 home runs, and a .318/.379/.553 line in 16 big league seasons. He hit 13 home runs with the Orioles last year. Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos was a former Montreal Expos employee when Guerrero was with the team and it appears that he is convinced that he still has something left in the tank after his long, successful career came to a halt last year.

Will Guerrero have a bounce-back season with Toronto?

Analysis: This could be a really good signing for the Blue Jays if Guerrero performs like his old self. The Jays have always had good hitting and they're enjoying a breakout season from Edwin Encarnacion so far this season. This signing REALLY helps their bench and gives them someone who can platoon with Adam Lind when the team is facing a left handed pitcher. However, the problem with Guerrero is that he does not have any plate discipline. He is known for swinging at pitches several feet above the strike zone as well as pitches in the dirt 40 feet in front of home plate. It is very hard to determine how he has put up such great career numbers with such little plate discipline, but as long as he puts up those numbers, I believe the entire Blue Jays office would be satisfied.