Jays sign Vladimir Guerrero to minor league contract

The Toronto Blue Jays signed veteran free agent slugger Vladimir Guerrero to a minor-league contract on Thursday in an intriguing move for a team fighting through offensive inconsistencies this year.

Guerrero, 37, has been on the sidelines waiting for the right opportunity and if he can regain some of his 2011 form— when he hit .290/.317/.416 with 13 homers and 63 RBIs in 145 games with Baltimore — would give the Blue Jays the option of sitting Adam Lind against right-handers and using Edwin Encarnacion at first base and retaining thump in the lineup.

As well, he provides another option at DH should Lind not find his stroke and Encarnacion be shifted to first base on a regular basis.

Guerrero is essentially a DH only now, having last played the field with Texas in 2010, and only 18 games at that.

He will report to extended spring training in Dunedin, Fla., to work his way into game shape.

The move comes about 10 days after the Tampa Bay Rays signed Hideki Matsui to a minor-league deal.

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