Blue Jays reportedly sign pitcher Gavin Floyd

The Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly signed free agent pitcher Gavin Floyd, who made seven relief appearances for Mark Shapiro’s Cleveland Indians in 2015

According to a tweet late Thursday night from Jon Heyman, the Toronto Blue Jays are on the verge of agreeing to terms with free agent right-hander Gavin Floyd.

Chris Cotillo has since reported that a deal is in place pending a physical.

Floyd, the longtime Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Phillies starter, has appeared in just a handful of games since 2013 after undergoing Tommy John surgery in May of that year. Even after returning from that procedure, Floyd battled a handful of additional injuries, so the physical will be key.

In the five years prior to that surgery from 2008 to 2012, Floyd made 153 starts while topping 185.0 innings in four of the five seasons. He earned a 4.12 ERA over that span.

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Floyd’s velocity appears to have rebounded just fine from the injuries, averaging just under 92.0 MPH on his fastball over the past two seasons which aligns with his career numbers very well. He also throws a two-seamer, cutter, curveball and seldom-used changeup.

In Floyd’s two finest seasons 2009 and 2010 he posted WAR’s of 4.0 and 4.1, but those days now appear to be well behind him. If he can remain healthy, however, he could certainly hold value as a depth arm within the Blue Jays organization.

Though no further details have been released at this time, I would expect the deal to be a minor league contract including an invitation to spring training.

This would slot him into a crowded group including Scott Diamond, Roberto Hernandez, Brad Penny, Joe Biagini and several others, all of whom have a razor-thin shot at a rotation spot should multiple injuries strike, but more realistically are headed for roles with the triple-A Buffalo Bisons.