DALLAS – The Toronto Blue Jays began rebuilding their bullpen with a familiar face, reaching agreement with Yimi Garcia on a $15-million, two-year deal pending a physical, according to an industry source.
Garcia, 34, was part of the club’s deadline sell-off last July, sent to the Seattle Mariners for outfielder Jonatan Clase, who appeared in seven big-league games for them, and high-A catcher Jacob Sharp.
His return comes the day after closer Jordan Romano, non-tendered late last month, signed an $8.5-million, one-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies. With an arbitration projection of roughly $7.75 million, the Blue Jays essentially transferred the 2025 salary commitment from one back-end right-hander coming off elbow surgery to another who finished the season on the injured list with elbow inflammation.
Garcia appeared in 29 games with the Blue Jays before being dealt to Seattle, pitching to a 2.70 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 30 innings, although he also missed nearly a month with ulnar neuritis in his right elbow. He made just 10 appearances for the Mariners.
Garcia became an integral part of the Blue Jays bullpen after signing an $11-million, two-year deal that included a $6 million option for 2024 that ended up vesting. In 157 innings over 163 games, he posted a 3.44 ERA with 179 strikeouts and nine saves.
He’ll rejoin a bullpen that finished 29th in the majors with a 4.82 ERA and gives manager John Schneider a second experienced leverage arm to pair with Chad Green.
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