On Tuesday, the Toronto Blue Jays and free agency reliever Chad Green reached an agreement on an $8.5 million, two-year deal.
The four-season agreement, which includes options for 2025 and 2026, could be worth $29.25 million.
Due to his Tommy John surgery, Green is expected to miss at least the beginning of this season. With the New York Yankees in May last year, he suffered a pitching elbow injury and missed the remainder of the season.
The right-hander had a 3.00 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 15 innings last year to get off to a strong start. He departed New York’s game against the Baltimore Orioles on May 19 due to soreness in his right forearm, and the Yankees revealed he had Tommy John surgery three days later.
The ligament-replacement treatment typically requires 12 to 18 months of rehabilitation.
Green makes $2.25 million this season, and the Blue Jays must choose whether to activate a club option that would result in $9 million payments in 2024, 2025, and 2026 after this season.
Green has a $6.25 million conditional player option for 2024 but can only be activated once Toronto exercises its option. Depending on how frequently he appears this year, Green’s dependent choice may increase by up to $1 million, or $250,000 per time.
Toronto has a conditional option worth $10.5 million per year for 2024 and 2025 if both the Blue Jays and Greens decline their initial choices. For appearances this year, those options include $1 million in escalators: $500,000 each for 60 and 65 games.
The 33-year-old Green has spent his entire major league career with the Yankees, going 33-22 with a 3.17 ERA. He has 53 holds and 11 saves.
In 383 2/3 innings, Green has faced 494 batters and walked just 96. With ten victories, 67 appearances, and 83 2/3 innings pitched with a 3.12 ERA, he achieved personal bests in 2021.
Matt Gage, a left-handed pitcher for Toronto, was designated for assignment to free up space on the 40-man roster.
As assistant pitching coaches, the Blue Jays hired David Howell for strategy and Jeff Ware for bullpen duties. The remainder of the big-league coaching staff from last season will be back, according to the franchise.