The Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to sign right-handed reliever Ronald Belisario to a minor-league deal, an industry source told Sportsnet.
If Belisario makes the team, he will earn a salary of $1.7 million.
If the hard-throwing Belisario can bounce back from a difficult 2014 season, he could bolster a Blue Jays bullpen in need of late-inning reinforcements.
Belisario established himself as a reliable late-inning reliever with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2012-13 only to struggle with the Chicago White Sox in 2014 and lose his roster spot with a non-tender. The 32-year-old posted a 5.56 ERA in 62 games for the White Sox in 2014, collecting eight saves while blowing four opportunities.
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But Belisario’s peripheral numbers suggest a return to form is possible. He struck out 47 batters while walking 18 and posting a solid 59.3 percent ground ball rate. His fastball maintained above-average velocity in 2014 (93.9 mph), though he generated swinging strikes less frequently than usual (6.6 percent whiff rate). Those numbers align with Belisario’s career norms (7.3 K/9, 3.3 BB/9, 60.4 percent ground ball rate, 3.75 ERA) and he produced a 3.69 xFIP, an indication that he could return to form with average defence and some improved luck.
However, Belisario has a history of off-field troubles. He was placed on the restricted list by the Dodgers on multiple occasions after reporting late to spring training, served a 25-game suspension for using cocaine in violation of MLB’s drug policy and served an unrelated suspension for his role in a brawl with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Belisario has two years of team control remaining, meaning he’ll be arbitration eligible one last time following the 2015 season.
Beyond Brett Cecil, Aaron Loup and Todd Redmond, the Blue Jays’ bullpen remains largely unsettled. Rotation candidates Aaron Sanchez, Daniel Norris and Marco Estrada could pitch in relief if they aren’t asked to start. Steve Delabar, Kyle Drabek, Chad Jenkins and Rob Rasmussen have big league relief experience, and prospects like Miguel Castro will enter Spring Training with a chance to break camp with the team.
Jon Morosi of FOX Sports first reported that the sides were progressing toward a deal, while Jim Bowden first reported the deal.
The Blue Jays also agreed to terms with infielder Ramon Santiago Thursday.
