Blue Jays pick up one of Chad Green's options, keeping him in Toronto for two more seasons

This past offseason, the Toronto Blue Jays signed Chad Green knowing that he would not contribute to the big league bulpen until at least August. Green, a longtime member of the division rival Yankees, was in the middle of a year-long recovery from Tommy John surgery. The right-hander signed a rather unique contract that came with a whole slew of different option decisions, both player and club.

In a rather confusing string of events, it seems that the Blue Jays declined a three-year, $27M option over Green, which led to him receiving a one-year, $6.25M player option. If he had accepted it, he would've been under contract for that single year. Now that he rejected it, the Jays could've either picked up a two-year option (which they did) or declined it, which would've sent Green to unrestricted free agency.

On Monday, the Blue Jays formally announced that Green will remain with the club for both the 2024 and 2025 seasons on a two-year, $21M contract.

Green, 32, made only 12 appearances for the Jays and while the 5.25 ERA he finished the year with does not jump off the page, he did an excellent job for the team. The ERA over 5.00 is significantly bloated by an outing in which he allowed three earned runs. A closer look reveals that he only allowed runs on four other occasions.

In 12 innings of work, Green struck out 16 batters and walked only 4. He has always been a high-strikeout pitcher who can function in a variety of different roles, even "opener" or closer. He brings a veteran presence to the Blue Jays and has extensive experience pitching in the playoffs, including a single appearance in this year's AL Wild Card Series.

Moving forward, the eight-year veteran figures to be an important part of a bullpen that's set to lose Jordan Hicks and Jay Jackson to free agency. Jordan Romano and Erik Swanson will return in 2024 as late-inning weapons, but Green should slot in nicely alongside fellow high-leverage relievers in Génesis Cabrera, Yimi García and Tim Mayza.