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What a difference a year makes.
Last season, Rod Barajas was a much sought-after free agent catcher who walked away from “more than a handshake” with the Blue Jays, fired his then agents, rehired some other clown and signed with Philadelphia, leaving the Jays in a lurch. By a lurch, I mean stuck with Gregg Zaun as their #1 guy. See? Lurch.
Thankfully, karma kicked Barajas in the nuts.
Actually, it was his groin that kept him on the Disabled List, but you get the picture. After relying on Carlos Ruiz all last season, Phillies management realized they didn’t need Barajas around and cut him loose.
Earlier this week, Toronto handed over a one-year deal worth $1.2M with an option for the following year to the man who walked away from them at the last minute last season. Apparently, now that no one else wants to offer him a job, Toronto is good enough for Mr. Barajas. Sadly, that is how desperate Toronto is for some veteran talent behind the plate.
Yet again, Toronto has thrown money at a player who brings very little to the table - what with Barajas being a career .239 hitter and all - instead of consolidating those funds and using the money to sign one player of actual value. And don’t give me the “Barajas hit 21 homers in Texas only two years ago” line either. Just about anyone with an ounce of power could knock 20 out of in Arlington. And that was playing full-time. Expect somewhere in the neighbourhood of .240, 10, 30, unless Zaun gets hurt or the Jays finally realize that he isn’t starting catcher material.
If the plan for the Jays off-season was to sign a bunch of guys that fill holes that don’t exist and give guys no one else wanted a place to play fairly regularly, than things have gone exactly as planned.
Thanks for letting us be Rod Barajas’ Sloppy Seconds JP. That makes us all feel real special.
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