Blue Jays cut ties with Chase Anderson, retain Rafael Dolis

The Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly declined to pick up the option on pitcher Chase Anderson for next season.

The Blue Jays held a $9.5 million team option that included a $500,000 buyout for the services of Chase Anderson in 2021. It is not overly surprising the brain trust opted to cut ties with the hurler following his disappointing season.

In 10 appearances including seven starts, Anderson went 1-2 with an inflated earned run average of 7.22. In just 33.2 innings of work, the 32-year old surrendered 27 earned runs including 11 round-trippers.

Toronto acquired Anderson last offseason from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for prospect Chad Spanberger but he was never able to find his footing in a Blue Jays uniform. Anderson will now become a free agent in a thin pitching market.

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The team did exercise the option on reliever Rafael Dolis in what was a no-brainer following the season he enjoyed. In his first season back from Japan, Dolis was an integral piece in the bullpen accumulating a minuscule 1.50 earned run average with five saves in 24 relief appearances.

The 32-year old earned $1 million in 2020 and the Blue Jays exercised his $1.5 million dollar team option for 2021. Dolis could be in the fold for a while seeing he is arbitration-eligible following next season and not eligible for free agency until 2025.

Anderson and Dolis were the only two decisions the team had to make in regards to player options for next season. However, the likes of Matt Shoemaker, Taijuan Walker, Robbie Ray, Ken Giles, Anthony Bass, Jonathan Villar, and Joe Panik all hit free agency at the conclusion of the World Series.

The Jays appear to have interest in retaining Walker, Shoemaker, Ray, and Bass, however, anything can happen now that they are on the open market. Walker could especially be a tough sign considering the available starting pitching options, he may be the next best available option behind Trevor Bauer and Marcus Stroman.

The Blue Jays have publicly said they will be targeting strike throwers and have aspirations of upgrading their team defence this offseason. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.