The Toronto Blue Jays signed pitchers Jordan Romano, Tim Maesa and Trevor Richards and receiver Danny Jansen to one-year contracts to avoid arbitration on Friday, according to MLB.com’s Mark Vinsand.
The team also signed new addition Daulton Varsho for $3.05 million to avoid arbitration, according to multiple reports.
Romano’s contract is worth $4.5375 and the Blue Jays still have two years of arbitration rights before he becomes a free agent in 2026.
The 29-year-old closer was 5-4 last season with a 2.11 ERA with 73 strikeouts in 64.0 innings pitched.
Drafted in the 10th round by the Blue Jays in the 2014 MLB Draft, Romano has a career record of 14-8 with a 2.58 ERA with 200 strikeouts.
Jansen’s contract is worth $3.5 million and the Blue Jays still have one year of arbitration rights before he becomes a free agent in 2025.
The 27-year-old catcher hit fifteen birdies and drove in 44 RBI while slashing . 260/. 339/. 516 last season.
Drafted in the 16th round by the Blue Jays in the 2013 MLB Draft, Jansen has 48 home runs and 143 RBI while hitting .223/.307/.423 for a career-high 323.
Varshaw was acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for prospect Gabriel Moreno and veteran outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. last month.
Farshaw, 26, hit a career-high 27 in 2022. He’s an outfielder who also has the ability to play catcher.
The team also agreed to a $2.8 million contract with Cavan Biggio to avoid arbitration, according to multiple reports.
The 27-year-old played in 97 games last season, and hit . 202 with six home runs and 24 RBIs.
Back in the bullpen
Mayza’s contract is worth $2.5 million and the Blue Jays have two years of arbitration rights before she becomes a free agent in 2026.
The 30-year-old pitcher went 8-1 with a 3.14 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 48.2 innings pitched last season.
Mayza was drafted in the 12th round of the 2013 MLB draft by the Blue Jays, and has a career record of 17-6 with a 3.98 ERA and 223 strikeouts.
Richards’ contract is worth $1.5 million and the Blue Jays have arbitration rights for a year before becoming a free agent in 2025.
The 29-year-old pitcher was 3-2 and averaged 5.34 earned runs and 82 strikeouts in 64.0 innings pitched last season.
The Blue Jays acquired Richards in July 2021, along with pitcher Bowden Francis from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for player Rudy Tellez.
Originally signed by the Miami Marlins of the Independent Frontier League in 2016, Richards has a career record of 20-15 with a 4.41 ERA with 444 strikeouts split between the Marlins, Tampa Rays Bay, Brewers and Blue Jays.
