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Blue Jays Acquire Luis Valbuena From Indians

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The Indians have traded Luis Valbuena to the Blue Jays in exchange for cash considerations, according to the team's officlal Twitter account.  The infielder was designated for assignment on November 18th.

Valbuena spent the majority of 2011 with Cleveland's Triple-A affiliate where he hit .302/.372/.476 with 17 homers in 472 plate appearances.  The infielder, who turns 26 on November 30, played 194 games for the Indians' varsity squad in 2009 and 2010 and saw a good deal of time at second base.

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Comments

    • I understand he has been seven levels of awful in the MLB in his career, but his MiLB numbers (especially at the upper levels over the last few years) are quite solid.  He is not a guy that you should be happy to see leave your organization for a mere pittance.

      Good (extremely) low risk, solid upside pick-up by Toronto.  In other words, business as usual north of the border.

  5. This tells me trade a trade’s a brewin’.  I wouldn’t be surprised if it involves Oakland’s Bailey or Atlanta’s Jurrjens (one of the coolest names in baseball imo haha).  Both those teams need offense and Toronto has some very good offensive prospects in their system.  I wouldn’t be surprised if Encarnacion and Thames are also involved in a deal.

    • You’re reading way too much into picking up a guy who’s been DFA’ed.

      • Maybe so when it comes this this particular transaction but everyone knows Toronto needs a starter and closer andboth Oak and Atl need offense, hence my post.

        • AA wouldn’t want Jurrjens, and you continue to overvalue Thames, he’s not bringin anything substantial back in a trade

        • What’s the last move that was solely made to set up another deal? The Edwin Jackson deal? We knew Jackson was headed to St. Louis almost before the deal to Toronto was even done, lol.

          • Toronto would have been wise to keep Jackson, then they would not need a #2.

            • his pending free agency made him both attractive to some teams and unattractive to others…

            • You understand that he if a FA Right now and if the need to be so wise the can sign him now?

            •  Why would we want a guy who walks 7 batters in a playoff game? Might as well of kept Jo-Jo Reyes….

        • Who are the Jays willing to trade who is like Yonder Alfonso or Logan Morrison? All you Jays fans talk a big game without naming names, or putting up terrible matches. Other than Anthony Gose, the Jays don’t have very many expendable hitting prospects, and no one wants David Cooper, Eric Thames or Travis Snider guys, so give up the dream.

          • HAHAHAHA, comparing Yonder Alonso to Travis Snider…

            Snider, who’s younger, has had
            more plate appearances in the minors, and posted a higher OPS. 

            MiLB Stats:

            Alonso 24 (4 seasons): 313 GP, 1340 AB, 345 H, 36 HR, 179 RBI, .293 BA, .370 OBP, .466 SLG, .837 OPS

            Snider 23 (6 seasons): 439 GP, 1887 AB, 508 H, 73 HR, 325 RBI, .306 BA, .379 OBP, .522 SLG, .901 OPS

            •  not to mention the fact that Snider has defensive value as well

            • Snider, who has looked totally lost at the big league level and cant take a walk to save his life, that Snider?

              its not 2009, no one cares about that guy anymore. Alonso has mashed at the big league level and drawn walks too.

              • lol so what your saying is… forget about stats and reasoning, i’m going to overlook that and stick to my opinion, which is wrong.

                stellar stuff pete .

          • while the trade proposed was ridiculous, and any intelligent jays fan will tell you the same..

            the jays have a top 3 farm system, mentioning david cooper and eric thames who were never top 10 organizational guys isn’t exactly proving a point

            •  I’d say Valbuena is a good extra addition, never know what will be available at 2nd base if Kelly Johnson doesn’t stick around… and we need to focus more on another starter and figuring out the closer spot, so… does this kid we got have any speed too or what lunchbox?

              • Valmalo isn’t very fast… doesn’t have much range.. has a strong and inaccurate throwing arm.. As a LF’er (after the Indians entire OF was decimated with injuries in 2011) in an emergency fill in role, failed miserably..and can barely hit his weight, and don’t expect him to do anything when it matters.. Another poster mentioned Valmalo in the same context as Brandon Phillips.. at least the Jays fans have a sense of humor… They’ll need it when they see what they’re getting with this guy..

              • umm why don’t you look it up. stop emberrasing yourself.. most ratings have them third, the highest they are ranked is 5th.

                go home

          • as a jays fan i hope they don’t give up on snider yet… 
            marisnick is a cf prospect that might be available in the right deal. mcdade might be expendable too. can’t say that they really have players with major league experience (as the 2 players you referenced have)

    • I think so. Or at least, until he proves he can’t hack it at all, a la Jayson Nix, he’ll be the full time 2B

      • i dont know about starting 2B.. his career high OBP is .298..

        they would have just kept Hill if this was the case

        • Hill costs several million while Valbuena costs, what, $500K?

          • noted. but is saving money really worth adding another batter to a lineup that already struggles to get on base? 

            I still think KJ is the best fit for the team.

            • If you use the saved money to better ends, such as absorbing Mark Teahen’s contract, then yeah, it’s worth it.

              • Agreed. Teahen is a waste of a roster spot. And the only reason he’s on is cause of his hefty salary the Jays inherited. I’d say cut him loose.

            • To be fair, Valbuena is just 26 and is coming off a season with a .372 OBP in AAA. He has a career mark of .387 in AAA. It’s true he hasn’t produced in the bigs, but it would seem AA thinks there’s still time for him to figure it out.

            •  What is the most you’d be comfortable paying for KJ before the picks look more valuable?

              • dont care about money as much as length of deal. 2 year deal I’m okay with

                chances are you arent going to get a first round pick for him anyways. Most teams who are interested have protected picks.

            •  As do I, but him and McCoy could do alright at 2nd if KJ doesn’t stay… what do you think KJ is worth? I’d say like a 2 year 16-18m deal or so, what do you think? And maybe in the end Lawrie at 2nd, Bautista at 3rd, Snider-Rasmus-Thames in the outfield. DH – Edwin, 1st – Lind, just a thought though I think Lawrie wouldn’t do so well at 2nd maybe?

        • i would hope aa pursues prado if this is what our 2B is looking like

      • Valbuena will just assume the Johnny Mac role, there’s no chance he’ll be starting for Toronto.

        • Meh, who really cares? No better option unless bring in a FA, re-sign Johnson, or rush Hechavarria, none of which are really favourable to the Jays.

    • I would still rather see them resign Kelly Johnson. To me he is insurance if they can’t find a starting 2nd baseman.

      • Why waste 2 picks when we all know we are not going to win next year. We have holes in all pitching positions. By the time next off season, we will be talking about adding pieces for the run at World Series( Optimistic)

    • No, my bet is that Valbuena becomes the new Johnny Mac around the infield. Mike McCoy can’t hack it and Valbuena has way more offensive upside. Good bench signing….can’t wait to see the other shoe drop and find out who the starter is. 

    • Yep…AA kept referencing how Reds picked up Phillips when he ran out of options with Indians before reaching his prime and he wanted to get a 2B in a similar manner.  Lo and behold, Indians have a 2B prospect out of optional assignments…and that was the rest of the story..

  11. Jays are going to change his whole mechanics and he will, hit 35 HRs tomorrow

  12. I think they let Johnson walk and add one or two more utility guys and depth at second base and draft a second basemen at the draft with the pick or picks that come with letting Johnson walk. 

      • talent should always trump need. best player. always, unless it’s really close

      • talent should always trump need. best player. always, unless it’s really close

    • They should have drafted Kolten Wong to be the 2nd basemen of the future instead of Beede. Hindsight is 20/20 of course but I’d rather have Wong sign right away and be close to the bigs sometime in late 2012/early 2013 than have the 22nd pick in 2012.

      • There’s absolutely no guarantee that Wong will ever make it to the majors let alone be ready by 2012, he’s only had 47 games to date. 

      • they drafted Berti & Vega-Rosada….they seem to be doing alright

  13. The Blue Jays have a really great GM so this guy will probably turn out to be a star.

  14. Wild card here we come!! Sure hope this isn’t our everyday 2b for 2012! Cleveland gives someone away for cash….he can’t be too good?

    • If they can get him for 2 years, then I would be happy. I don’t really care too much what the yearly amount would be. If I were AA, I would probably be willing to give more money to not tack on that 3rd year.

  16. johnson would be okay, but not at the cost that will come.  Johnson will probably cost 2 years, at least, maybe 3, plus the picks that we don’t get for signing him.

    If he signs elsewhere, we get 2 picks.  He’ll probably get 13 mil for 2 years (hill got 11 for 2 i think) That’s just too much for a guy like him.  Maybe if he was still hitting like a couple years ago.  the risk-vs-reward just isnt there.  No need to overpay for johnson, even if he does bounce back which isn’t a guarantee

    • “Maybe if he was still hitting like a couple years ago.”

      You mean last year?

      Edit: FWIW, Johnson with the Jays: .270/.364/.417

      • I would hesitate to read too much into a 33 game sample size.

        That being said, Kelly is better than he showed in Arizona this year. A .750+ OPS next year seems like a reasonable expectation.

      • I would hesitate to read too much into a 33 game sample size.

        That being said, Kelly is better than he showed in Arizona this year. A .750+ OPS next year seems like a reasonable expectation.

  17. Quick question for Jays fans: why don’t you make Lawrie your 2B and sign Aramis Ramirez? Seems like a good way to add another 30+ HR masher to the lineup who plays a better 3B than the out of position Lawrie.

    • they tried lawrie at 2b and it didn’t work out and they don’t want to keep changing his position plus ramirez’s defense isn’t that great anyway

      • I’d rather have Snider-Rasmus-Thames in the outfield and Bautista at 3rd than Aramis Ramirez… nobody wants to be associated with a brother of Manny steroids Ramirez lol and on top of it, Lawrie blows at 2nd and is better fit at the hot corner! 

        • “nobody wants to be associated with a brother of Manny steroids Ramirez lol”

          I’m sorry, is my sarcasm indicator not up to date or are you being serious?

    •  Out of position lawrie? Have you seen him play 3rd? I bet he would surprise you.

      • Once a player is graded by Fangraphs / UZR being negative, the stigma will follow him forever.. Defensive metrics are at best a marginal interpretation of a players ability to play a defensive position..at worst.. they’re voodooo…
        I’ve seen Lawrie play, accuracy with his throwing (his arm is much more than strong enough) by having better footwork will eliminate most of his egregious errors. His “range” for a 3B is more than adequate.. His reaction off a batted ball will take some time and experience to develop. Having a GG SS standing to his left, doesn’t hurt…

    • How is Lawrie out of position?  He had two years in the minors playing second.  Prior to that he was a catcher.  The Jays moved him to third because they had a need and he wasn’t really suited for second.

      • and the move to 3rd worked out great. all scouts said he couldn’t hack it at 2nd base, in 1 year at 3rd he’s looking like a very credible defender.  Also, hecheveria is only 1 or 2yrs away, and escobar will move to 2nd, so they aren’t in a rush to screw around with lawrie & make him switch back to a position that wasn’t working for him.

        also, from lawrie himself, he wanted to play 3rd & the brewers would never allow him, this is probably the position he prefers playing

        • im pretty sure hecheveria would play 2nd if we still have escobar when he’s playing full time.

          • That’s probably wrong for two reasons. 1) Hech probably doesn’t have the bat to make it at 2B; and 2) Most scouts project him to be a better defensive SS than Escobar. 

            The only reason Escobar would not get moved is because they don’t want to mess with his head, or for some reason he shows a real reluctance to the idea and it would cause a controversy.  

            • escobar is solid at SS, so why would you put a worse bat at a position where you already get solid offense and defense? plus it would be easier to move hecheveria to 2B because he’s younger and fits the criteria in terms of size. since i’m assuming hercheveria’s assets are his speed and his glove, then i’d rather have him play second rather than screw with escobar. im not saying that’s what should happen, but that’s what i would prefer if they both played full time on the jays.

                • if both guys are good at the position, it doesn’t matter where they play. if you move escobar to another position because he’s struggling at the position he’s currently at, that’s one thing. but he is a really good fielder, and unless hechevaria is the next omar vizquel, then it really doesn’t make that much of a difference if he’s projected to be a better fielder. i’d rather not screw around with escobar because he’s one of the better shortstops in the league and he’s not the type who would take the move to second base particularily well imo.

        • im pretty sure hecheveria would play 2nd if we still have escobar when he’s playing full time.

      • Think about it, you were a catcher and they make you an infielder. OK Joe Torre!

    • ramirez is on the decline. more like an orioles move. lawrie is good at 3B now and going forward

    • ramirez is on the decline. more like an orioles move. lawrie is good at 3B now and going forward

  18. I wont read too much into this, TOR needs 2B depth option as the system does not have that much middle infield depth. Afterall the guy has been DFAed, he will be called up to play 2B should any injury occurs.

    Basically, it confirms what every Jays fan know: KJ is not coming back and AA will pocket the 2 picks.

  19. why is everyone saying re-sign kelly johnson.  Fact is that is not going to happen, why sign a 30+ year old for 11+ million when he can net you 2 draft picks & you have a prospect (hecheveria) who is only 1 year or less away from coming up to the majors & taking that spot.

    good pickup by the jays on this guy, I’m sure they’ll be working the phones to find a better starter at 2nd base, but at least they already have a backup plan in place with this deal

    • your counter to signing kelly johnson is…. wait for hechavarria??

      You know his ceiling is a #9 hitter.  Throwing in the towel in 2012 and wasting another year of bautista’s absurdness would be foolish.

      Not to mention that with the new draft restrictions, it will really prevent the jays from targeting the players they have in the past. AA has already made the farm team top 3, its time to put the talent on the field. . If a team with a protected ends up signing him, is it really worth letting him go for a 40th and 65th pick?

      • our time isn’t now anyways! regardless if jose is in his prime, this team isn’t ready to be a top contender for another year or 2, what is blowing 22 million on kelly johnson going to do for us? nothing. getting 2 draft picks helps that future. I’m not saying we don’t need a 2nd baseman & that hech is going to be something great, but we should value getting these draft picks & it looks like we do; so we need to find other options at 2nd base, this is hopefully a plan B & hopefully they are still working on a plan A, but at least it looks like we have a good plan B in place already

          • what world do you live in that KJ isn’t going to want at least a 2 year contract worth 11m or more each…. being the only good free agent 2b available, think about it

              • no i understood him fine.. but KJ doesn’t get anywhere close to 10 million

                7.5 max which makes it a 15 for 2 years

            •  He’ll only get 18m for 2 years, I bet any money on that. He’s a 50/50 chance to keep and resign, if he does want more money though I would let him go.

            • how many teams need a 2B??

              how many teams that spend money need a 2B?

              there is literally no market and especially no big market teams fighting for him.

              •  Maybe not but I mean there is more than the Jays who want him. There’s nobody but KJ on the 2nd base market right now, but you are right not a lot of teams need to fill that 2nd base hole. Esp. since Hill resigned in arizona and mark ellis signed elsewhere too.

      • 2012 is the last yr that GM like AA can gain the draft pick compensation system. The draft has always been a crapshoot, only increasing the no of picks can increase the chance that TO can get an impact player from the draft.

        I say AA will pocket the 2 picks just simply because KJ is not that good, way too inconsistent, well that is after 2 yrs of shitshow that screams Aaron Hill

  20. The two draft picks are more valuable than Kelly Johnson right now and the future. You never know those two players could be trade bait in the future. An example is Boston’s trade with Padres for A.Gonz.

    • Your two draft picks would be very lucky to net even one player of KJ’s caliber, as such a small % of prospects actually make the mlb. If the money is not a concern (which given the jays paltry payroll, it should not be) then then KJ is way more valuable then draft pick compensation.

      If AA has plans of getting another quality 2B then I might be able to understand passing on KJ. That type of player is valuable though, and the jay’s certainly don’t have anyone else in the system right now who would project to provide near KJ’s production.

      • Yup, your right that it is a small % of prospects  make the MLB. But, I would put my money on AA and his staff that they’ll find a guy in the first and sandwich rounds to be able to make it worthwhile. 

        • you have a 50% chance that its a 1st rounder

          add to the fact that teams like the sox, yanks, texas, phillies, rays etc have no need for him, the chance that its a 1st rounder is closer to about 30%

          • Aren’t there only 10 protected picks next year? Or does that start in 2013?

  21. Omg! AA strikes again, what a great deal for the jays, he is gonna be the next Robbie alomar I know It, AA is god!!1!1!1!1!!

  22. I’m okay with us giving him away.  He was not going to play ahead of Kipnis or Phelps and he never played well in the bigs.

  23. You know the offseason is slow when there are over 100 comments about a guy who has been acquired by cash considerations.

  24. Jays should forget about Johnson. Sign a stop-gap like Carlos Guillen and wait until Hech is up with the big club in 2013. 

  25. Valbuena was strictly a guy that is acquired for depth in the system.  Nothing more – nothing less.  It only cost a small amount of cash for a 26 year old infielder that now has an opportunity to put his past behind him and try to improve his chances of returning to the major leagues. 

    Many people put too much emphasis on offense, but that is only a small detail when it comes to players.  Iglasius in Boston has a good glove, zero offense, but I doubt if that prevents Boston from calling him up at some point.  Gardner in New York plays defense, has speed, but he isn’t in the lineup for his bat.  Walks are just as important as a base hit. 

    Everyone needs to remember that every player is on a different level, when it comes to their skills and where they are in their development.  Some players can hit major league pitching at 19.  Others don’t start enjoying good offensive years until they are 28 or older.  Pitchers may get knocked off the hill in their early years, then turn around and win Cy Young awards per Cliff Lee.  Valbuena is only 26, not 36, which leaves a lot of years to reach his potential.  That makes it a good trade.  Depth at a position makes teams stronger – it doesn’t weaken them, because injuries can occur at any time, to any player on the field.

    • its impossible to argue this being a good trade, anytime you give up cash for somebody who has any potential its always worth it in my books.

    • its impossible to argue this being a good trade, anytime you give up cash for somebody who has any potential its always worth it in my books.

  28. i’d find it hard to believe luis will start if we don’t get kelly, he is most likely a replacement for johnny mac. when i saw luis on waivers i said to myself AA should pick this guy up seeing how he can play most of the infield positions decently, is young, and is cheap

  29. sounds like 2B insurance. 

    he’s been able to hit everywhere in the minors. worth taking a shot on to see if he can figure it out. given the price tag, a nice move. he was simply redundant and falling behind some other young guys with the tribe.

  30. Valbuena just makes me think of the one Indians announcer absolutely losing it on him in that memorable post game rant two years ago. Check youtube if you haven;t seen it!

  31. 200 posts and counting for a utility guy that may or may not make the majors next season…LET’S SEE SOME REAL NEWS!

  32. This is definitely a tough trade market when GMs are trying to “win” trades for AAA players with optional assignments (Jeroloman) and MLB bench players out of optional assignments (Valbueno).

  33. lol at all the Blue Jay fans wanting Hanson and Beachy. Don’t you guys know that those 2 are almost untouchable?

    Of course, if you want them we can work out a deal for Jose Bautista.

    EDIT

    I just posted this on the wrong page… The “Braves surplus of pitching” right underneath this is where this post was suppose to go… I fail.

  34. I find it hilarious some of you guys think Valbuena will become “the new Johnny Mac”. This would be true if Johnny Mac was a butcher in the field. Oh, and if he was the worst hitter on the planet. NoBueno’s AAA stats are VERY misleading so don’t get your hopes up. He is nowhere near a prospect and will get under Blue Jay fans’ skin real quick.

    • As long as he’s not Kevin Mench or Brad Wilkerson, I’ll take him.

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