Blue Jays: Former players latching on with new teams

TORONTO, ON - JUNE 1: Leonel Campos
TORONTO, ON - JUNE 1: Leonel Campos /
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As we patiently wait for the Toronto Blue Jays brain trust to surprise us with a festive acquisition or two some former Jays players have latched on with new clubs for the 2018 campaign.

The Los Angeles Dodgers finalized their free agent signing of Tom Koehler yesterday and it came at somewhat of a bargain considering the free agent relief market thus far. The one-year deal will see Koehler earn a $2 million base with another possible $1.75 million in incentives for games started and total appearances next season.

The Jays acquired the 31-year old in August for prospect Osman Gutierrez, however, they were forced to non-tender the hurler after he was forecasted to earn $6 million through the arbitration process this offseason.

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The Cleveland Indians released former Jays hurler Leonel Campos so he can attempt to jump-start his career in Japan. Campos latched on with the Hiroshima Carp for next season after initially signing with the Indians on November 22nd. The Carp finished atop the Japan Central League last season with an 89-51 record.

Campos made 13 relief appearances for the Jays last season and was quite effective in the small sample size accumulating a 2.63 earned run average in 13.2 innings on the bump for the big club.

As well, pitcher, Chris Smith inked a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals that includes an invite to spring training. The 29-year old made his major league debut last season with Jays seeing action in 4 appearances out of the bullpen and surrendering 3 runs in 5 innings of work.

Smith had an impressive Dominican Winter League showing going 1-1 with a 2.25 earned run average while fanning 15 in 17 relief appearances for Estrellas de Oriente. The hurler’s agency True Gravity Baseball tweeted out the signing yesterday evening.

Next: Blue Jays: Jose Bautista still has something to prove in 2018

The Jays offseason has been uncharacteristically slow to this point having only acquired Aledmys Diaz thus far in exchange for J.B. Woodman. Free agents Ryan Goins, Darwin Barney, Jose Bautista and Brett Anderson all remain unsigned as we head into the Christmas break.

Hopefully, Santa Shapiro and company will have something festive for us before the New Year.