January 5, 2024

Official Toronto Blue Jays News Release

The Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to terms with the following free agents on Minor League contracts with invites to 2024 Major League Spring Training:

-RHP Paolo Espino

-C Payton Henry

Espino, 36, made a trio of appearances out of the Nationals bullpen in 2023 while starting 13 games for Washington’s triple-A team in Rochester, combining to post a 4-3 record and a 5.60 ERA. The Panama City native was selected by Cleveland in the 10th round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, eventually making his major league debut with Milwaukee in 2017. The 5-foot-10, 212-pound righty has made 94 career MLB appearances (41 starts), going 5-14 with a 5.01 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP.

Henry, 26, spent the 2023 season with Milwaukee’s triple-A team in Nashville, batting .294 with 20 extra-base hits and 35 RBIs over 65 contests. The 6-foot, 229-pound backstop was selected by the Brewers in the 6th round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft before making his MLB debut with the Marlins in 2021. Over 20 big league games, the American Fork, UT, native hit .186 with a double and four RBIs, while posting a .253 batting average, 140 extra-base hits, and 241 RBIs over 463 career Minor League contests.