The Blue Jays are close to a deal with Maicer Izturis, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). Last night we heard that Toronto may be close to signing an infielder, and Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca heard that it would not be Ryan Theriot (Twitter link).
Izturis, 32, hit just .256/.320/.315 in 319 plate appearances for the Angels this year, his worst full season as a big leaguer. He won't hit for any power, but Izturis makes a lot of contact and is a capable defender at all three non-first base infield positions. He's also a threat to steal double digit bases. Izturis is represented by Peter E. Greenberg & Associates.
The Blue Jays figure to add infield depth this offseason since Kelly Johnson is a free agent and Yunel Escobar is a trade candidate. They briefly had Mike Aviles after acquiring him from the Red Sox for manager John Farrell, but he's since been flipped to the Indians.
This post was originally published on November 8th.
meh..
Glad the Aaron Hill trade worked out Alex.
Sure, under the assumption Aaron Hill would return to form with the Blue Jays.
Note: He most likely wouldn’t.
+1
+1.
Let it go man…
Take it easy Lahairy Bumgarner
As a Jays Hill was tanking hard. Just because he improved significantly as a D’back, doesn’t mean he would have as a Jays…and there’s a number of reasons why. Manager, hitting coach, atmosphere, etc.
Aaron Hill became a free agent at the end of the 2011 season, and every team had an opportunity to sign him. With or without the trade, he wasn’t coming back to the Blue Jays in 2012.
Aaron had to go unfortunately. Anyone that watched him play would admit the same. He was struggling badly in Toronto after the 09 season. Glad to see he turned it around in Arizona.
Aaron Hill was traded with a couple of months left in his contract. The Jays were 100% not going to resign him.
Sounds like a solid pick up. Wouldn’t have minded if the Red Sox tried making an effort to get him.
Solid but unspectacular! Not sure what is the price tag that come with it. Small upgrade over aviles based on the fact that he can get on base.
This is exciting. switch hitting speed player who’s a capable defender. Good AA.
You know your team’s in serious trouble when Maicer Izturis is considered an “exciting” pickup.
Let me guess… you broke down into tears of joy when we signed Omar Vizquel last year?
I don’t know why you are getting so hot and bothered about Aaron Hill. When Hill was in Toronto, he was as bad as Vizquel.
Who’s “we” first of all? We aren’t affiliated in any way with the Blue Jays.
Secondly, the fact that this allows Adeiny the opportunity to go back to AAA, gives Toronto the versatility to have an adequate defender all across the diamond, a hitter that can’t be exploited by a ROOGY or LOOGY, and a speed threat to boot. Izturis brings a little bit of everything to the table. So yes, him signing with the Blue Jays excites me. sue me.
2 years $6 million?
I’d guess something in that ballpark. Maybe 2/7.
Actually seems like a decent pick up. Would he start or come off the bench?
Right now he starts… unless Hech start in the Bigs, which I higly doubt.
I suspect he’ll start at the beginning of the season and then move to the bench to make room for Hechavarria later in the year.
Mighty Maicer was fun to watch but unfortunately the guy is made of glass. When he wasn’t hurt though, he always seems to come through in the clutch. Oddly enough, he was the longest tenured Halo last season. Best of luck to him in TOR.
Personally I was hoping for Jeff Keppinger since we clearly wouldn’t be getting Marco back.
I think AA’s trying to be economic to push as much money into the quality pitching arena. Plus Keppinger is not the defender Izturis is.
Makes sense that a Quebecois (AA) would go after a former Expo.
Could be exciting… should be an upgrade from Johnson.
He would of been a nice backup for the yankees, but he did regress last yr.
Faint praise?
Yup and it shows how little i believe in Nunez figuring out how to play defense.
he did not get to play much. but you keep him in the lineup as much as his body permits he is true clutch hitter.
I was hoping the White Sox would pick him up. They need an infielder who can play all three infield positions and someone who can play unlike Ray Olmedo…that guy was awful and lazy
Like the move, wonder what the dollar values are.
World Series here we come
Can MLBTR just make this an automatic comment, cut-and-pasted into every single depth-move story for every team?
I hope this is a depth move, but with Toronto’s lack of payroll he very well could end up being a starter
He probably is a starter. Aviles (at 2B) and Lyons/Frasor(at RP) will cost about $8mil. Rogers at RP costs $480k. I am sure Izturis comes in well under $7mil.
Same impact (WAR) for less money. The money saved can be used for starting pitching.
* He probably starts at second.
Update – Looks to be about $3mil salary which translates into a $4.5mil savings. Same WAR for half the price.
Siging Anibal Sanchez would make Izturis starting more reasonable.
You are probably. I don’t think it is that bad if he ends up a starter. If something better turns up (via trade or Hech improving), then he becomes a really nice UF. I like this move.
I was thinking the same thing. For example, if Philly scuffles again this year, Utley probably becomes available just like Victorino was in 2012.
he is not a starter for his durability concerns. however, he is clutch to the tenth degree.
I hope you mean under 7M for 2 years! Anything over 4M per fo 2 years would be an major overpayment IMO.
He’s nothing more than Omar Visquels replacement.
He is much better than Vizquel.
Championshiiip!
10M for 3 years plus 4th year option AAV not bad but not sure about 3 years.