Liriano returns to Blue Jays on minor league deal

Left-hander Francisco Liriano, who pitched with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2016 and 2017, has returned to the club on a minor league contract that includes an invite to big league spring training. Photo: Toronto Blue Jays/Twitter

February 3, 2021

By Andrew Hendriks

Canadian Baseball Network

The Toronto Blue Jays and free-agent left-hander Francisco Liriano have reached an agreement on a one-year minor-league contract that comes with an invite to big league camp.

Liriano, 37, has appeared in parts of 14 seasons at the major league level, posting an overall ERA of 4.15 with 1,815 strikeouts against 816 walks throughout his 419 appearances. Those totals include a 28-game stint with Toronto that saw the 6-foot-3 product of San Cristobal, D.R., go 8-7 and earn the winning decision in the 2016 American League Wild Card game.

Opting out of last year's COVID shortened 60-game campaign, Liriano last appeared in the big leagues with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2019 and pitched exclusively out of the bullpen. In 69 games with the Bucs, the veteran hurler recorded 3.47 ERA with a WHIP of 1.357 over 70 innings, holding left-handed hitters to an OBA of .194 across 72 at bats.

If a relief role is in the cards for Liriano with the Blue Jays in 2021, he'll compete with fellow 40-man southpaws (and former starters) Ryan Borucki, Anthony Kay, and Steven Matz when camp gets under way later this month.

-Follow Andrew Hendriks on Twitter (@77hendriks)