TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays added to their stockpile of hard-throwing, inexpensive and controllable young relievers Saturday by acquiring Esmil Rogers from the Cleveland Indians for infielder Mike Aviles, picked up in the John Farrell deal, and catcher Yan Gomes.

Rogers, a 27-year-old right-hander, throws in the mid-90s and was 3-3 with a 4.69 ERA in 67 combined games for the Tribe and Colorado Rockies. One key stat that attracted the Blue Jays to him is the 9.5 strikeouts per nine innings he averaged.

Another is that the native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic still has four years of club control remaining and won’t be eligible for arbitration until next fall. He slots in with other recent acquisitions Steve Delabar and Brad Lincoln in giving the Jays a cheap bullpen core for years to come.

The addition of Rogers likely means Jason Frasor and Brandon Lyon won’t be re-signed to save money with the free agent relief market spiking, as evidenced by the US$22.5-million, three-year deal Brandon League received from the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Blue Jays also may be on the hook for US$3 million to Darren Oliver should the left-hander decide to pitch one more season.

General manager Alex Anthopoulos is expected to shop aggressively for starting pitching and he now may also need to find a second baseman, since Aviles was a candidate to play there depending on how the off-season unfolded.

A Blue Jay for less than three weeks, Aviles was the return in the deal that sent Farrell and reliever David Carpenter to the Boston Red Sox.

Well on the move again!! Got the news I’m off to Cleveland!!! Excited for the new adventure!! #titoreunion #gotribe

— Mike Aviles(@Themikeaviles) November 3, 2012

The 31-year-old made US$1.2 million last year and was due a raise in his second year of arbitration, and may have been a non-tender candidate after the 2013 season.

If the Blue Jays are unable to acquire a second baseman over the winter or run out of money, they can shift shortstop prospect Adeiny Hechavarria to the spot.

Gomes, 25, made his debut with the Blue Jays last season as a super utility player, batting .204 with four homers and 13 RBIs in 43 games.