The Blue Jays have released Vladimir Guerrero at his request, the team announced. The 37-year-old outfielder issued the team an ultimatum earlier today, and they decided to release him rather than call him up the big leagues. Bean Stringfellow, Vlad's agent, said his client is not retiring and will seek employment elsewhere.
Soon after joining the Blue Jays' organization, Guerrero hit four homers in four games at Class A Dunedin. He was then promoted to Triple-A Las Vegas, where he collected four hits last night after a slow start. Guerrero has 2,590 hits, 449 homers and a .318/.379/.553 line in 16 big league seasons. In 590 plate appearances with the Orioles last year, the nine-time All-Star posted a .290/.317/.416 line with 13 homers. He drew interest from the Diamondbacks, Indians and Marlins earlier this year.
Aww, man. I was looking forward to watching him hit — it’s hilarious watching a dude completely miss an 88mph heater down the middle & then park one 440ft that was 5 1/2 feet out of the zone..
I remember a game in Texas, a 95 mph pitch inside and he whiffed, announcer was laughing at Vlad, next pitch was 92 mph over the right corner and he drilled it to right center for a 3 run homer.
I also recall an earlier game, Vlad hadn’t hit all game long (no one had) but the announcers were picking on Vlad, calling him all washed up. 9th inning he drills a 2 run home run against the closer with two outs, announcers sure changed their tune fast.
Indians need to go get him. Can take some DH turns. Righthanded stick. Hafner and him split at bats when Hafner returns from DL just like last year with Thome
They already have Damon.. Why take on another finished player who expects to play when they have no business on a team, other than a AAA, or Independent league one?
Because Vlad hits RH, drives the ball, fits in well, can still play OF, outhit 65% of major leaguers last year… come to think of it, who needs guys who hit better than most current major leaguers, it’s not like hitting is getting worse every year….
Vlad can play the OF? That’s news to…well, everyone.
The Angels figured out years ago that he couldn’t play the field anymore and was limited to being a DH. There’s no reason to think that his fielding has gotten any better in the last 4 or 5 years.
If that’s the case (he still hits so well) would think there had been a sizable market for him and he would have/could have found a job on a MLB roster before June.
Not saying he couldn’t *maybe* find something for 1m, or less on some NL team as a PH, but face it.. he cannot play the OF any longer and his power is pretty much a thing of the past. That was why the O’s let him walk after the 2011 season.
Considering his lack of power in a home run haven at Camden Yards last year, its not really surprising that the Orioles let him go.
That is it.. Everyone knows Duquette LOVES to keep/sign people like Vlad if he doesn’t have a young kid to play a position, or in Vlad’s case..DH and The Duke never made any attempt to retain him whatsoever..
If that isn’t a teller of how much he thought was left.. The guy who has been know to give talent like Lee Tinsley starting roles.. It should be.
Hey, Jermaine Dye hit well in his final season and was unable to find a job. Teams just don’t like being pigeonholed into having to carry a DH with no defensive flexibility.
Good luck to him. Cleveland and Detroit would be good fits. I wonder if other teams have already talked to his agent, it’s not illegal with his opt out clause after all.
When news broke we signed him, I thought the chances that he’d get
called up to Toronto were slim. Alex Anthopolous even said his signing
wouldn’t have been news if he wasn’t a potential Hall-of-Famer.
There just wasn’t a roster spot for him. Gomes and Cooper are having “breakout” years… Snider is almost ready, and Lind is hitting .400 and making great improvements in AAA.
great improvements? In a week.
it just goes to show you how beefed up the PCL is for hitters. Guys who we’re ops’ing under 7 in the bigs go down and OPS 1.000+
They need to move that team.
I remember hearing Howarth and Ashby mentioning that the Mets’ AAA team in Buffalo is in the last year of their contract, and that the franchise is unhappy with them. The 51s are in the last year of theirs, too.
I’d love to be able to drive two hours to see the farm team!
I believe the Jays have already agreed to a 3 year extension with the 51s.
They signed an extension with New Hampshire but there was never anything reported about Vegas. I really can’t see the Jays signing an extension with Vegas unless it is a last resort kind of deal. I could be wrong though.
Not yet.
Gomes is having a breakout year? .226/.278/.516 with 9 k’s and 2BB in 31 AB? Maybe he’ll have a good year, but he’s not “breaking out.”
Jonny Gomes is always capable of “breaking out” and striking out 15 of 20PA.. Have seen that before while he was with the Rays…
Except we’re talking about Yan Gomes here, the C/1B/3B prospect for the Jays.
LOL Apologies…
I believe he’s talking about Yan Gomes of the Blue Jays.
Ted has the correct numbers for Yan Gomes, he’s not a special prospect.
Yeah, Yan Gomes the guy who will be lucky to have a job behind Lawrie Arecibia d’Arnaud E3 and Lind. He’s also only hitting .226. Coopers high BAIBP will bring his average down a lot as well.
There goes the 51s championship…nah nvm we got Chris Woodward.
hahahahahaha
I’m still mad the Giants didn’t try to sign him to hit behind Bonds. Although watching Madison Bumgarner completely dismantle him in the World Series was pretty awesome too!
Why do people think Vlad is done? The dude has produced wherever he has played and hasn’t even been below average recently. The man can still play. Im pulling for Vlad to find the right opportunity and team to showcase his talents, even at the age of 37
Jays were probably the best fit for him. at 37 he’s a liability in the field, so it has to be an AL team and most have DH’s
Jays just didn’t want to call him up until after interleague play, which makes sense. He didnt want to stick around, so oh well
He was below average last year as a full-time DH who hit 13 HR and contributed 0.0 WAR. This year he tee’d off on some crappy A-ball pitching (i’m sure Vlad will be able to do that when he’s 50, too), but if the Jays, who really need a big bat, saw nothing there then I’m inclined to believe them.
Of course, Vladdy can’t hit bombs anymore? So what. HE show he can still hit for contact last season with Baltimore.
I think part of the problem is that he can’t play in the field anymore, so he’s limited to DH duty. Too bad, because the Phillies could sure use his bat. They’ve already got one guy on their roster (Thome) who can’t play in the field. No room for another one.
Can he still play in right field or is he strictly a DH at this point?
Is that you asking, Jason?
Apparently Dombrowski has already contacted his agent… but like most rumours it ain’t official.
Turn out the lights….the party’s over.
Where does all the hate for Vlady come from? The contempt that some hold for the guy is odd. As far as I know he’s a solid citizen (so to speak). Can we say the same about other oldsters who receive respect and MLB jobs… like Giambi and Manny? I hope some team gives him a shot. He’s been a fun player to watch and the game can use more characters like him.
Amen to everything you’ve said . . .
I liked watching him steal bases against Varitek.
CD… that is some seriously horrible trolling on your part… no one has linked Vlad w/ the juice… he came by his numbers honestly… I’m offended by that assertion and I’m sure “the Impaler” would be as well.