Blue Jays: Top 10 International Free Agents

8. Gustavo Chacin
The Blue Jays signed left-handed Venezuelan pitcher Gustavo Chacin at the age of 17 in 1998.  In 2004, he was a late season call up and got two starts in the back end of September, throwing seven innings in both games and collecting his first career victory in the first game, which was against the New York Yankees.

The two appearances helped Chacin earn a full-time spot in 2005 and made 34 starts during the year throwing over 200 innings and picking up a 13-9 record with a 3.72 ERA.  Chacin would finish fifth in Rookie of the Year voting. Chacin would pitch to more seasons with the Blue Jays and finish up with a 25-15 record over parts of four seasons, but wouldn’t be able to stay in the pros much longer. He was granted free agency at the end of the 2008 season and would bounce around the minor leagues after that before making a return in the Houston bullpen in 2010.

7. Luis Leal
The records are a little thin on when Luis Leal signed with the Blue Jays, all I can tell you is that it was before 1979.  Another Venezuelan pitcher, the Blue Jays found a solid arm in Leal.  Leal was one of the main starting pitchers for the Blue Jays through the early to mid-80s.  He had three consecutive seasons of double digit win seasons and threw more than 217 innings in all of those seasons.

After the 1985 season, Leal was traded along with Damaso Garcia to the Atlanta Braves, however he never pitched again after that.  Leal currently sits 11th on the All-Time Blue Jays list in wins with 51 and finished his career with a 4.14 ERA.