Cole re-signs with Blue Jays

Right-handed reliever A.J. Cole has signed a minor league deal to return to the Toronto Blue Jays organization. Photo: Toronto Blue Jays/Facebook

January 8, 2021

By Andrew Hendriks

Canadian Baseball Network

TORONTO -- After being non-tendered in an effort to clear space on the club's 40-man roster last December, free-agent right-hander A.J. Cole and the Toronto Blue Jays have come to terms on a minor league deal for the upcoming campaign.

Cole, 29, pitched to an ERA of 3.09 with 20 strikeouts, while walking only nine, in his 24 assignments with the Blue Jays in 2020, all of which came out of the club’s bullpen.

Through parts of six big league seasons, the former fourth-round draft pick has amassed an overall WHIP of 1.459 while allowing 38 home runs across 197 1/3 innings.

Friday's deal comes with an invitation to big league camp this spring. The Florida native will earn $1M if he makes the team out of camp and can pull down another $200K by reaching a series of inning plateaus throughout the course of the season.

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