Jays Sign Three

Some news from Blue Jay land this week. 

Brandon Morrow signed a three year contract extension worth $20 million yesterday.  The deal comes with a team option for a fourth year at $10 million.  I like this deal for the Jays.  We've all seen Morrow's upside, but I'm of the opinion that the Jays do not yet know what it is they have in Morrow.  His Jekyll and Hyde antics over the last season left us wanting more after one start, and wondering where he went after the next.  With some consistency, Morrow could be great.  Without it, he's still a .500 pitcher.  6.66 million for a .500 pitcher in today's salary structure is far from unreasonable.  (See AJ Burnett)

Yesterday the Blue Jays also signed 44 year old free agent utility infielder Omar Vizquel to a one year minor league contract with an invite to spring training.  I like this signing as well, and see it as very low risk.  If Vizquel breaks camp with the team (which presumably he will) his role will be very similar to the role John MacDonald held with the team before his departure for Arizona.  A defensive replacement who will get a start here and there to give one of the everyday players a day off.

That brings us to today's signing.  Anthopoulos continued to rebuild the bull pen today when he signed free agent closer Francisco Cordero to a one year deal worth $4.5 million.  Cordero was 5-3 with a 2.45 ERA and 37 saves for Cincinnati last season, and it is reported that he will be the set up man for new closer Sergio Santos.  Again, I am a fan of this acquisition.  Cordero brings a veteran presence to help along Santos get situated in his role.  I also like the Jays newly revamped pen that much more with Cordero in it. 

The signing of Cordero today comes after there were early reports last night that a deal was in place between the Rangers and the Blue Jays that would send reliever Koji Uehara to Toronto.  However, the buzz died almost completely about two hours after the rumors first surfaced.  Tonight it was reported from multiple outlets on twitter that the deal had been called off as a result of Uehara exercising his limited no trade clause he had to six MLB teams.  Toronto was one of them.