The Blue Jays are signing a reliever Jay Jackson to a minor league contract, reports Jon Heyman of the New York Post (Twitter link). He’ll be in big league camp as a non-roster invitee.
The 35-year-old has seen some big league action in four seasons, including each of the last couple of years. He only pitched twice at the highest level for the Braves last season, working 1 1/3 scoreless frames. He was held out of action for the first couple months by a lat strain and spent the bulk of the year on optional assignment to Triple-A Gwinnett.
Jackson pitched very well for the Stripers, allowing only five runs over 19 2/3 innings. He struck out 25 of the 80 hitters he faced (a 31.3% clip) while walking just four. Despite that quality work, Jackson couldn’t seize a spot in an Atlanta bullpen that was one of the sport’s deepest. The Braves ran him through outright waivers in September and he reached minor league free agency at season’s end.
The veteran hurler logged more extensive MLB action with the Giants during the 2021 campaign. He threw 21 2/3 innings through 23 outings for San Francisco, posting a 3.74 ERA while punching out 31.1% of batters faced. He missed plenty of bats but struggled with wobbly control, doling out free passes to more than 13% of opponents.
Jackson will be in camp and vie for a spot in a Toronto bullpen that could have a few openings in the middle innings. Jordan Romano, Erik Swanson, Anthony Bass, Yimi García and Team Mayza should have spots secured. Adam Cimber and out-of-options hurlers Trevor Richards and Mitch White could have the inside track at the remaining jobs but don’t seem as firmly penciled in. Jackson is out of minor league options himself, meaning he’d have to stick in the majors or be made available to other teams if he cracks the MLB roster at any point.
.