Well, the Blue Jays have finally signed a left-handed power bat.

It’s just not who anyone was expecting, as Robert Murray of Fansided reported that the Jays and Daniel Vogelbach agreed to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Free-agent designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach and the Toronto Blue Jays are in agreement on a contract, according to sources familiar with the deal.
&mdash; Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) <a href="https://twitter.com/ByRobertMurray/status/1758654838290980971?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
If you remember, Vogelbach has actually played for the Blue Jays before, getting five plate appearances during the 2020 pandemic year. His best season in terms of wRC+ came in 2022, where he slashed .238/.360/.4333 with 18 homers in 461 plate appearances for a 126 wRC+.
The 31-year-old first baseman/designated hitter’s best power season came in 2019, slashing .208/.341/.439 with a career-high 30 home runs in 558 plate appearances for a 112 wRC+ and a 1.2 fWAR.
Last season, he played for the New York Mets where he slashed .233/.339/.404 with 13 home runs in 319 plate appearances for a 109 wRC+ and a 0.1 fWAR. Despite the raw power, Vogelbach doesn’t strike out an extraordinary amount, posting a 25.4 K% and even a 13.2 BB% in 2023.
For his career, Vogelbach slashed .220/.342/.410 with 80 home runs in 1878 plate appearances from 2016 to 2023. He has a combined 110 wRC+ and has accumulated 2.1 fWAR, with a 15.3 BB% and a 25.3 K%. In terms of his 2024 projections, Fangraphs’ steamer has him slashing .235/.347/.4222 with nine homers in 215 plate appearances, along with a 14.2 BB% and a 24.6 K% for a 112 wRC+ and 0.3 fWAR.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Like it or hate it, but you can&#39;t deny it. This is what peak athletic performance looks like. Welcome back, Daniel Vogelbach! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueJays</a> <a href="https://t.co/h7dhQ6d3BQ">pic.twitter.com/h7dhQ6d3BQ</a>
&mdash; Damon (@Varsh0AA) <a href="https://twitter.com/Varsh0AA/status/1758660579844304897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Vogelbach will battle with Spencer Horwitz for the opportunity to DH/play first base. Interestingly, Vogelbach slashed .246/.353/.427 versus right-handed pitching last season, and the New York Mets exclusively used him as a DH against right-handed pitching. If at any point next season Vogelbach is on the Jays, it could very well be the same.
Time will tell if the Jays have found a useful bench bat that can hit in clutch moments, but either way, this signing is definitely a fun one if it isn&#8217;t good.
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As always, you can follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Threads @Brennan_L_D.
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Well, the Blue Jays have finally signed a left-handed power bat.



It’s just not who anyone was expecting, as Robert Murray of Fansided reported that the Jays and Daniel Vogelbach agreed to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training.

https://twitter.com/ByRobertMurray/status/1758654838290980971

If you remember, Vogelbach has actually played for the Blue Jays before, getting five plate appearances during the 2020 pandemic year. His best season in terms of wRC+ came in 2022, where he slashed .238/.360/.4333 with 18 homers in 461 plate appearances for a 126 wRC+.

The 31-year-old first baseman/designated hitter’s best power season came in 2019, slashing .208/.341/.439 with a career-high 30 home runs in 558 plate appearances for a 112 wRC+ and a 1.2 fWAR.

Last season, he played for the New York Mets where he slashed .233/.339/.404 with 13 home runs in 319 plate appearances for a 109 wRC+ and a 0.1 fWAR. Despite the raw power, Vogelbach doesn’t strike out an extraordinary amount, posting a 25.4 K% and even a 13.2 BB% in 2023.

For his career, Vogelbach slashed .220/.342/.410 with 80 home runs in 1878 plate appearances from 2016 to 2023. He has a combined 110 wRC+ and has accumulated 2.1 fWAR, with a 15.3 BB% and a 25.3 K%. In terms of his 2024 projections, Fangraphs’ steamer has him slashing .235/.347/.4222 with nine homers in 215 plate appearances, along with a 14.2 BB% and a 24.6 K% for a 112 wRC+ and 0.3 fWAR.

https://twitter.com/Varsh0AA/status/1758660579844304897

Vogelbach will battle with Spencer Horwitz for the opportunity to DH/play first base. Interestingly, Vogelbach slashed .246/.353/.427 versus right-handed pitching last season, and the New York Mets exclusively used him as a DH against right-handed pitching. If at any point next season Vogelbach is on the Jays, it could very well be the same.

Time will tell if the Jays have found a useful bench bat that can hit in clutch moments, but either way, this signing is definitely a fun one if it isn't good.

<hr />

As always, you can follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Threads @Brennan_L_D.

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The Blue Jays have reportedly signed Daniel Vogelbach to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training

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