Toronto Blue Jays reportedly sign reliever David Phelps

According to Mark Feinsand of the MLB Network, the Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly signed free agent reliever David Phelps. The 34-year old will be paid $1.75 million with an additional $750,000 in performance bonuses on the table.

This will be the second stint as a Blue Jay for Phelps, the reliever spent the 2019 campaign with Toronto before being dealt to the Chicago Cubs at the trade deadline in exchange for pitcher Thomas Hatch.

Phelps split last season with the Milwaukee Brewers and the Philadelphia Phillies earning a 2-4 record with a 6.53 earned run average in 22 relief appearances. Prior to the trade, Phelps had a 2.77 earned run average in 12 appearances for the Brewers but struggled in his last ten games with the Phillies surrendering 11 earned runs including five homers in 7.2 innings pitched.

Over the course of his eight-year MLB career, Phelps owns a respectable 3.95 earned run average with an 8.7 strikeout per nine rate and a 6.2 WAR in 291 games.

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Phelps is a nice low-risk veteran addition to the Blue Jays bullpen who could pitch late in games. The brain trust have been active in recent days tinkering with their relief options, earlier today Toronto designed Shun Yamaguchi for assignment while claiming Joel Payamps off waivers from the Boston Red Sox. However, the Payamps addition may be short lived if the Blue Jays require a 40-man roster spot for Phelps.

Thus far this offseason, the Blue Jays have added Kirby Yates, Tyler Chatwood and A.J. Cole to their list of relievers. The bullpen is rounding into form nicely coupled with Rafael Dolis, Jordan Romano and Hatch who should have an increased role this season.

There is just over a week until Spring Training kicks off so expect a ton of signings and roster jockeying around the league in the coming days. There is also still a plethora of starting pitchers unsigned on the open market so it could be a busy few days for the Jays as they attempt to shore up the rotation at the eleventh hour.