Blue Jays infielder Jonathan Villar has changed agencies and is now a client of Wasserman, Robert Murray reports. He’d previously been with MDR Sports Management. MLBTR has made note of the switch in our Agency Database.
The change in representation comes at a key time for Villar, who’s on the cusp of free agency. He’s on track to join Didi Gregorius, Andrelton Simmons, Marcus Semien, Freddy Galvis and Korea’s Ha-Seong Kim as some of the most recognizable shortstop-capable players on the open market.
Now 29 years old, Villar has posted quality seasons in the past (including a 4.0-fWAR showing with the Orioles in 2019), but he’s due to reach the open market off a poor campaign. Between Miami and Toronto, the latter of which acquired him before the Aug. 31 trade deadline, the switch-hitting Villar recorded a paltry .232/.301/.292 line with two home runs in 207 plate appearances in 2020. But with 16 stolen bases, it was the fifth straight season in which Villar swiped double-digit bags, and he did continue to flash defensive versatility by accruing well over 100 innings at both middle infield spots.
I hope Atkins doesn’t have their number!
Atkins has already got many other bad numbers….
Faux
Are there any fans here who honestly care what agent represents fair to middling players?
I care about the insight that this site provides me, yes. This site is very informative if you enjoy information.
Yes, site is good, but that is not the comment asked. The site need not tell us who a players agent is. That is like you telling me who your lawyer and CPA are……do you really think I would be interested?????
I would rather the site include all of the players cut from the 40-man rosters (which they do not 100 percent of the time) or (all of the players sent down from spring training including non-roster invitees) and……Great Site yes, but there are some things that are not necessary
I agree with your point and how the site should be sharing better info than this… But a move to Wasserman is a big deal especially in Villars case. More likely to get a better contract now and maybe even play on a real good ball club. But I will admit it is pretty useless information for a baseball fan.
if the Phillies don’t bring back DD gregorius and their first round pick from 2019 isn’t ready to come up to the majors which most likely he’s not I would love for the Phillies to go at their Jonathan VR I mean he was pretty good with the Orioles I’m not sure how good he performed last year with the Marlins and the blue Jays but I think he could be one of those stopgap players only if we don’t sign DD and Bryson Stott is not ready to come up
Gave nothing to the jays. Was pinch hit for at the end of the season and was a baby about it
Yeahhhhhh, but look at it from his perspective. He’s had a really bad season, and he knows he’s got to go to free agency with it.
You get toward the end of the year, and he’s still telling himself that he can turn it around. And he feels like he’s not getting the chance to do that. I’m sure he was just as frustrated as you/the fans/the team about the way it all shook out.
Phillies never should have made him a “throw-in” in that trade with the Astros.
Villar would look good in Philly: 20 HR and 30+ SB.
I said it with regards to pitchers yesterday on another post and I’ll say it again. This off-season is going to be a dream-market for buy-low steals.
Villar’s another guy that a good team can probably scoop up on a one-year, make-good sort of deal, use him as a super-utility guy at second, short, maybe third, maybe in the outfield and as a pair of legs off the bench, and really get some value. At this point, what kind of guarantee is he going to get in this broken market?
Does 1 year at $3-4M get him onto your roster? Is anybody going to pay him like a starting shortstop with Didi, Simmons and Semien available? He’s going to have to settle for something, and I wouldn’t hate to be the team where he settled.
When he came to the Jays, we heard good things about him & he played good defence for the Marlins when we played them, but from the first game nothing but defence & Base running mistakes & a poor attitude & then he didn’t hit so hopefully the Jays don’t resign him.
Now you understand why us Orioles fans were okay with trading him despite the low return. Jose Iglesias and Hanser Alberto were much better for us.
If a GM runs Villar out there at SS everyday, his pitching staff will burn his house down.
BUT for 3-4M? A DH whose got defensive flexibility and speed? Ya, might be worth a shot. Fair warning though; in-game skills are totally absent, and he’ll make crucial mistakes at the worst times.
Yeah, it’s a shame you can’t teach baseball IQ to some guys.
Still, I feel like you could probably do a lot worse than getting this guy 3-4 starts a week around the infield. Maybe you run him around a little in left field during Spring Training and see how that goes.
I just looked at his track record, and he’s kind of a butcher at third… but still, for a team trying to carry as few position guys as possible, his flexibility and legs could be an asset even if the 3 inches between his ears are a liability.
Thing is… if you’re Villar, you’re probably looking for a starting job. I could see a bad team dropping a few bucks and starting him with the idea of trading him for something at the deadline.
I wouldn’t mind the Angels bringing him in a a one or two yet deal. Have him play second, move Fletcher to short. Add speed to the top of the lineup.
Villar could be a nice sign for the Reds. they haven’t had a really good two-way SS since the days of Barry Larkin. Plus, at 29, Villar should have a lot left in the tank.