Blue Jays to sign infielder Eric Sogard

The Blue Jays have reportedly agreed to terms with infielder Eric Sogard, who spent the 2018 season with the Milwaukee Brewers.

According to Robert Murray of the Athletic, the Blue Jays have agreed to terms with free-agent infielder Eric Sogard. The deal will be a minor-league deal and will include an invite to Spring Training.

Sogard, 32, spent the 2018 season with the Milwaukee Brewers, tallying 113 plate appearances in 55 games, slashing an ugly .134/.241/.165 and adding three doubles and seven runs scored. He also appeared in 27 games for the Brewers’ Triple-A affiliate.

The 2018 season was a little bit of a messy one for Sogard, as he was released, designated for assignment, released again and re-signed as a minor-league free agent all within the span of six months by the Brewers organization. The last game he played in was for the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox in August.

Prior to joining the Brewers organization, Sogard, a second-round pick of the San Diego Padres in 2007, made a name for himself in Oakland with the Athletics.

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In a rather fruitful 2013 season, he slashed a healthy .266/.322/.364 with 35 RBI and 24 doubles in 130 games. In parts of six seasons with Oakland, he slashed a cumulative .238/.309/.314 with eight home runs.

A relatively versatile defensive infielder, he has logged innings at third base, second base, shortstop, and left field at various points throughout his career. A native of Phoenix, Arizona, he is perhaps best known for the fact that he wears glasses while on the field, something that the fans in Oakland highlighted numerous times in the form of signs and Twitter hashtags.

A left-handed hitter with a career wRC+ of 74, he has amassed over 1500 major league plate appearances since making his major-league debut in 2010.

This is likely a depth signing, as Sogard should start the season in Triple-A unless he performs admirably in spring training, at which point he could conceivably make the team and fill in at various infield positions throughout the first part of the season.

At this point, the team, nor Sogard himself, has confirmed the signing. It should become official soon.