*Photo from Bleacher Report*
The Toronto Blue Jays are upgrading the bullpen. They have signed RHP Kirby Yates to a one year, $5.5 million deal, according to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet. Yates' deal also has an extra $4.5 million in bonuses that can max out the contract at $10 million total. Yates did meet with the Blue Jays on Tuesday, which ramped up talks. The deal has been confirmed by the Blue Jays.
Yates missed most of the 2020 season due to injury, but he did post a 0-1 record with a bloated 12.46 ERA, throwing 4 1/3 innings in 6 appearances out of the San Diego Padres bullpen before he was shut down. In his 7 big league seasons, Yates has a 12-17 record with a 3.54 ERA, throwing 282 1/3 innings in 291 relief appearances, splitting his time with the Padres, Los Angeles Angels, and Tampa Bay Rays.
Despite his poor and short 2020 performance, Yates stock was still high thanks to a dynamite season in 2019, where he went 0-5, but posted a sparkling 1.19 ERA, picking up a NL leading 41 saves in 60 appearances out of the bullpen for the Padres. He was also effective in 2018 as well, picking up 12 saves with a 2.65 ERA in 65 appearances.
The Blue Jays were looking for a closer after they had lost incumbent closer Ken Giles to Tommy John surgery in 2020, and if he can stay healthy, Yates should be the front runner for the closers job. He'll join a bullpen that includes Rafael Dolis, AJ Cole, and Jordan Romano in Toronto, or Buffalo, depending on whether or not the Canadian Government will let the Blue Jays play in Toronto.
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