The Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly signed former Rangers closer Francisco Cordero to a one year deal worth $4.5 million, extending their string of consecutive offseasons in which they've acquired a former Ranger closer named Francisco to two.
Cordero was dealt to Milwaukee, along with Kevin Mench, Laynce Nix, and Julian Cordero, for Carlos Lee and Nelson Cruz in the summer of 2006, in the aftermath of meltdowns that cost Cordero his closer's job in Texas. Cordero then signed a four year deal with Cincinnati after the 2007 season, logging 150 saves in that stretch.
This has potential repercussions for the Rangers, because Toronto and Baltimore were the two teams who reportedly had the most interest in trading for righthanded reliever Koji Uehara. The addition of Cordero to the Blue Jay bullpen could mean that they are no longer targeting Uehara, which would give the Rangers less leverage in a potential deal.
Cordero is notable for being the last remaining piece of the ill-fated Juan Gonzalez trade still active and kicking. Cordero was a highly-regarded minor leaguer when Detroit sent him, Justin Thompson, Frank Catalanotto, Gabe Kapler, Alan Webb, and Bill Haselman to Texas for Juan Gone, Gregg Zaun, and Danny Patterson twelve years ago in a deal that didn't work out for anyone the way they had hoped.