TORONTO – The Toronto Blue Jays made their first moves of the off-season Friday, declining a 2021 option on one right-handed pitcher while exercising a club option on another.
Chase Anderson is now a free agent after the Blue Jays declined his $9.5-million club option in favour of a $500,000 buyout, an industry source told Sportsnet. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays announced that they exercised their $1.5-million club option for reliever Rafael Dolis.
The 32-year-old Dolis appeared in 24 games for the Blue Jays this summer while posting a 1.50 ERA. He struck out 31 hitters in 24 innings while allowing 14 walks, 16 hits and one home run.
Acquired for minor-leaguer Chad Spanberger last off-season, Anderson struggled with Toronto, allowing a 7.22 ERA and 11 home runs in 33.2 innings. An oblique injury sidelined him early in the season, but he still started seven games to go along with three relief appearances.
Anderson now joins former teammates Taijuan Walker, Matt Shoemaker, Robbie Ray, Anthony Bass, Ken Giles, Jonathan Villar and Joe Panik on the free agent market. Each of those players will be free to sign with any team starting at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday.
