Blue Jays Add Another Trio To Buffalo

March 27, 2012; Port St Lucie, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Buddy Carlyle (84) pitchers during a spring training game against the New York Mets at Digital Domain Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY SportsIn keeping with their busy offseason, the Toronto Blue Jays have made quite a splash this winter. However, it has not been simply about building the major league roster. Alex Anthopoulos and company have spent quite a bit of time adding depth to their minor league system in order to help protect themselves against the injuries that hurt their 2012 campaign.

That mission continued late last week when the Blue Jays added a pair of right-handers and a lefty to the mix, signing Buddy Carlyle, Chorye Spoone, and Greg Smith to minor league contracts.

Carlyle is a 34-year-old reliever that spent 2012 at triple-A Gwinnett in the Atlanta system. The right-hander has not appeared in the majors since 2011, when he took the mound in 6 games for the Yankees. In 112 games at the major league level, mostly with the Atlanta Braves, Carlyle has accrued a 11-12 record with a 5.58 ERA and 7.0 K/9 ratio.

The 27-year-old Chorye Spoone has never appeared at the major league level, spending 2012 split between Pawtucket and Portland in the Red Sox system and then double-A New Hampshire for the Blue Jays. For the season, he posted a 3-4 record with 3.39 ERA and 5.9 K/9 ratio. However, he also averaged 6.9 BB/9 for the season and has a 5.2 BB/9 rate over the course of his minor league career. There is little chance that he will see Toronto in 2013.

The 28-year-old Smith was once a sought after prospect, first being included in the deal that brought Dan Haren from Oakland to Arizona and then later flipped with Carlos Gonzalez and Huston Street to Colorado for Matt Holliday. Despite that, and limited success in 2008 with the Athletics, Smith has not pitched in the majors since 2010. Since that time, he has played in the Independent League and the farm systems of the Yankees, Red Sox, and Angels. He’ll serve as starter depth in case of extreme emergencies.