CLEVELAND — The pursuit lasted several years, but the Toronto Blue Jays finally got their men.
Veterans Kevin Mench and Brad Wilkerson joined the Blue Jays in Cleveland yesterday and were immediately put to work, inserted into the lineup for last night's game against the Indians. Mench was the designated hitter, while Wilkerson went into left field.
It is hoped the addition of the duo will help to ignite a pop-gun offence that continues to be the bane of the Blue Jays' existence through the first seven weeks of the American League season.
"Hopefully, they can help us a little bit," manager John Gibbons said before the game. "Two guys we've always liked since I've been here."
Brad Wilkerson reacts at the last game of the Montreal Expos at the Olympic Stadium on Sept. 29, 2004. (Globe and Mail)
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While the addition of Wilkerson had been anticipated for a couple of days, the Blue Jays also landing Mench was a bit of a surprise — even to Mench.
The 30-year-old outfielder said he didn't even learn about the move until about 3 a.m. yesterday after playing a Triple-A game with the Oklahoma RedHawks of the Pacific Coast League.
"I know Toronto's been interested for a few years, things just haven't worked out," Mench said.
Mench might be better known to Toronto baseball aficionados as the former member of the Texas Rangers who ended the season of Jays ace Roy Halladay on July 9, 2005, when his line drive struck Halladay on the left leg, breaking a bone.
Just to prove there are no hard feelings, Mench was given the locker next to Halladay's in the visitors clubhouse yesterday at Progressive Field.
Mench was toiling in Triple-A after failing to make the Rangers' lineup as a non-roster invitee in spring training. Mench was hitting .282 and had three home runs and 18 runs batted in with Oklahoma. He comes relatively cheap this season, as the Jays are on the hook for the rest of the $600,000 (U.S.) owed to him by the Rangers.
Wilkerson, a former Montreal Expos outfielder, signed a $3-million contract with the Seattle Mariners this season, but was cut loose after batting .232 in 19 games. He is hoping his stint with the Jays will mark a new beginning in his career.
"This is an intriguing option for me and I decided to take it," Wilkerson said. "It came about pretty quickly here [Toronto], and they rushed me out of there [Seattle].
"I'm glad to be here."
Wilkerson also comes cheap, as the Jays only have to pay the prorated portion of the $390,000 major-league minimum salary. The Mariners will have to pay the rest of his $3-million contract.
To make room on the Jays' 25-man roster, infielder Joe Inglett was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. And to allow room on the 40-man roster, the Jays cut ties with left-handed pitcher Gustavo Chacin, a former 13-game winner in 2005, whose career has been derailed by injury.
The Jays also cut infielder Sergio Santos yesterday.
