Former closer Aardsma joins Blue Jays as player development coordinator

Toronto-Blue-Jays;-David-Aardsma

David Aardsma. (Mike Carlson/AP)

Former closer David Aardsma has joined the Toronto Blue Jays front office as a coordinator of player development.

Aardsma officially retired as a player to take the role, ending a career that saw him pitch at the MLB level for parts of nine seasons. He appeared in 331 games and compiled 69 saves. The 36-year-old pitched for the Braves in 2015 before signing a minor-league deal with the Blue Jays the following spring. He hasn’t appeared at the big-league level since.

“I’m really excited about this role,” he said on his podcast, The Bullpen with DA. “I’m really excited about the people (in Toronto)—what they’re building. It’s one of those organizations (with) people you want to be around and this was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.”

Aardsma pitched for the Mariners, Mets, Giants, Braves, Red Sox, Cubs, Yankees and White Sox at the MLB level.

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