Blue Jays sign Vargas, Thompson, Perez, Velez, Jimenez

The Toronto Blue have signed right-handers Claudio Vargas and Richard Thompson, left-hander Juan Perez, third baseman Eugenio Velez and first baseman/designated hitter Luis Jimenez to minor league contracts, the team has announced:

Blue Jays sign RHPs Claudio Vargas and Richard Thompson, LHP Juan Perez, 3B Eugenio Velez and 1B/DH Luis Jimenez to Minor League contracts.

— Blue Jays-Official(@BlueJays) December 11, 2012

Vargas maintained an ERA of 3.74 over 31 combined appearances, including 20 starts, for the Milwaukee Brewers’ Triple-A affiliate and the Vaqueros Laguna of the Mexican League. The 34-year-old has maintained an ERA of 4.83 over parts of eight seasons at the major league level.

Thompson, 28, appeared in 46 games for the Oakland Athletics’ Triple-A affiliate last season, posting an ERA of 3.34 with 8.4 strikeouts and 3.3 walks per nine innings.

Perez, 34, was a teammate of Vargas with Milwaukee’s Triple-A club, posting an ERA of 3.60 over 38 appearances.

Velez, 30, spent the 2012 season with the St. Louis Cardinals’ Triple-A club, hitting .280/.358/.449 with 34 doubles, five triples and 11 home runs over 516 at-bats.

Over 471 at-bats for the Seattle Mariners’ Triple-A affiliate Jimenez, 30, hit .310/.394/.514 with 32 doubles, two triples and 20 home runs.