Toronto Blue Jays Release Vladimir Guerrero

Vladimir Guerrerowas playing on a minor league contract, but he knows he has Major League talent.  The Blue

Jays and Guerrero parted ways yesterday not because the team didn’t think he could eventually join the team, but because they weren’t ready to promote him now.  Guerrero requested to be released from his contract, and the Blue Jays granted that release.

“He played [Monday] night and he decided that was enough for him,” Blue Jays General Manager Alex Anthopoulos said. “He felt he was worthy of a call-up and we weren’t prepared to do that right now.”

Guerrero became a free agent after playing last season with the Baltimore Orioles.  He was not signed until a month ago when the Blue Jay signed him to the minor league deal.  Guerrero played in 12 minor league games this season, batting ..358/.364/.679.  Ultimately, though, Guerrero felt he should be on a Major League roster and wanted to try his luck elsewhere.

Guerrero is a lifetime .318/.379/.553 hitter.  He has 449 home runs and has made it known he’d like to try playing until her gets to 500.  Whether that will happen or not is yet to be known.  If he can sign with a team willing to give him playing time, he may have a shot.  The question is whether that team is out there.

According to Baseball Reference’s Hall of Fame Standards Test, Guerrero scores a 58.  Average Hall of Fame scoring is 50.  It is very possible that Guerrero ends up in the Hall of Fame, but right now he just wants to play.

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