Blue Jays sign Chad Cordero

You know it's a slow time in the baseball world when Chad Cordero gets a headline, but so she goes..
According to MLBtraderumors.com, the Jays have agreed to sign reliever Chad Cordero, who will presumably be competing for a spot in the the team's bullpen this year. The terms haven't yet been released, but I'd assume that it's not for more than one year and $1M.

Cordero was dominant in his first three seasons in the majors, actually accumulating 47 saves in 2005 (the same year he made the All-Start team and received Cy Young and MVP votes). In 2006 he finished the year with a 3.19 ERA, 1.105 WHIP, 2.7 BB/9 and 8.5 SO/9. In 2007 his numbers remained respectable with a 3.36 ERA, 1.387 WHIP, 3.5 BB/9 and 7.4 SO/9.

He then had shoulder surgery and has been pretty shitty in the majors ever since. His numbers in the minors last year were good, but that success hasn't yet translated to the majors since going under the knife. Either way, it's worth taking a flyer on the guy - as long as the cost is minimal - in hopes of him returning to anywhere near his old numbers. Not bloody likely though.

On another note:

There are multiple rumours going around that Adrian Beltre is close to signing with the Texas Rangers, and I wanted to highlight how this will affect the Jays. On one hand, it's a good thing if the Rangers sign Beltre as that means the LA Angels won't, resulting in the Jays receiving the Angels 2nd round draft pick next year instead of their third (since Beltre is a higher ranked free-agent than Scott Downs). On the other hand, the Rangers' first round pick isn't protected which means the Red Sox will receive Texas' first round draft pick next year. If the Angels sign Beltre then the Red Sox receive a 2nd rounder from the Angels while the Jays would receive a third rounder. So (assuming Beltre is going to sign with either the Angels or the Rangers) the question becomes: would you rather the Jays receive a 2nd round draft pick from the Angels and the Red Sox receive a 1st round pick from the Rangers; or that the Angels (whose 1st round pick is protected) sign Beltre and the Red Sox only get a 2nd round choice for Beltre while the Jays get a 3rd rounder? 

Based on the supposed drop off in talent between the 1st round and each subsequent round, I'd have to think that it's in the best interest of the Jays if the Red Sox don't get another 1st round selection (remember, they already have Detroit's from losing Victor Martinez) as it all becomes a bit of a crapshoot after the 1st round anyways, and the difference between the 2nd and 3rd rounds can be minimal.