The Toronto Blue Jays acquisition of Ben Francisco is about adding some organizational depth and is not a prelude to another transaction involving one of their ever-growing surplus of outfielders.
That was refrain Monday from Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos, hours after acquiring Francisco from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for minor league pitcher Frank Gailey.
With Francisco now in the fold the Blue Jays 40-man roster is comprised of eight outfielders including Jose Bautista, Rajai Davis, Darin Mastroianni, Colby Rasmus, Moises Sierra, Travis Snider and Eric Thames.
And that’s not counting the likes of utility man Mark Teahen and Edwin Encarnacion — the latter the Jays have toyed with playing in left field.
With Bautista and Rasmus firmly entrenched in right and centre fields respectively, Davis and his guaranteed contract expected to serve as the fourth outfielder and backup in centre and with Snider and Thames expected to battle it out for the starting left field job in camp, Monday’s deal suggests further moves are to come.
Not necessarily said Anthopoulos.
“Francisco’s a guy that we liked,” he explained, adding that Francisco’s right-handed bat will add some balance to their lineup against tough lefties. “It’s just an opportunity to add a player that adds depth for us at the right price. I don’t think there’s anything more to it than that. He’s a good guy to have coming off the bench.”
However: “If things change in the winter and there’s an opportunity to get some other players, we can mix and match.”
The 30-year-old Francisco appeared in 100 games with Philadelphia in 2011 posting a line of .244/.340/.364/.704 with six home runs and 34 RBIs.
During his five-year MLB career with Cleveland and Philadelphia, the right-handed hitter has posted a career line of .260/.332/.430/.762. He has played 195 career games in LF, 130 in right and 44 in centre.
Francisco made $1.175 million in 2011 and is arbitration eligible. He is scheduled to become a free agent in 2014.
Gailey, 26, was selected by the Blue Jays in the 23rd round of the 2007 draft.
In 2011, the Philadelphia native split time between single-A Dunedin and double-A New Hampshire posting a 3.41 ERA in 45 relief appearances.
To make room on the club’s 40-man roster, Toronto designated pitcher Jesse Chavez for assignment.
Jays claim relief pitcher:
Also on Monday, the Blue Jays claimed 28-year-old relief pitcher Jim Hoey from the Minnesota Twins.
To make room on the 40-man roster for Hoey, the team outrighted catcher Brian Jeroloman and pitcher Drew Carpenter to triple-A Las Vegas.
Hoey confirmed the move himself on Twitter (@JHOEY5):
“I enjoyed everything Minnesota had to offer but it’s time to be Canadian! At least I don’t have to give up those bombs to Bautista,” he wrote.
Hoey — who has a history of arm problems — pitched 24.1 innings for the Twins in 2011 posting a 5.47 ERA and 1.743 WHIP with 18 strikeouts.
“It’s a power arm, certainly there’s a bit of a ceiling there,” said Anthopoulos, adding there’s a chance Hoey could be re-exposed on waivers and claimed by another team.
Hoey missed much of the 2004 season and most of 2005 due to Tommy John surgery and in early 2008 he underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery.
On Dec. 9, he was traded by the Baltimore Orioles along with fellow minor league pitcher Brett Jacobson to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for shortstop J.J. Hardy and utility infielder Brendan Harris.
Avoiding arbitration:
The Jays signed and consequently avoided arbitration with three players on Monday.
Pitchers Jesse Litsch and Dustin McGowan and newly acquired catcher Jeff Mathis all signed one-year deals.
Mathis was acquired on Dec. 3 for pitcher Brad Mills. His contract is worth $1.5 million in 2012.
Litsch made 28 appearances and recorded six wins in 2011. He will earn $975,000.
McGowan had been hampered by injuries since the middle of the 2008 season. Two shoulder surgeries and a knee surgery prevented the right hander from playing until Sept. 5 this year, when he pitched four innings against the Red Sox. His contract is worth $600,000.
