Matt Shoemaker, a right-hander who most recently pitched for the Toronto Blue Jays, is reportedly in agreement with the Minnesota Twins on a one-year deal worth $2 million, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.
As part of the deal, Shoemaker can earn an additional $250,000 in performance bonuses, Passan reported. Completion of the deal is said to be pending a physical.
Between injuries and the COVID-19 pandemic, the 34-year-old was limited to just 57 innings pitched in 11 starts in the past two seasons combined, registering a 3.14 ERA in that time as a member of the Blue Jays.
Shoemaker originally joined Toronto on a one-year deal in 2018 after spending six years with the Los Angeles Angels, and re-signed with the Blue Jays last off-season.
He had previously indicated he had a desire to return to the Blue Jays, praising the city and its fans for their passion as well as the roster for its young, "hungry" core.
"Obviously I want a good fit," Shoemaker said of his free-agency priorities during an October 2020 interview with Sportsnet's Good Show. "I just want to go to a team that's just hungry, right? And the Jays are hungry, man. Like, we've got this really young team who just love the game, fiery players, really talented."
In Minnesota, Shoemaker joins a roster that was in need of starting pitchers after losing veterans Jake Odorizzi and Rich Hill.
The Twins ended the pandemic-shortened 2020 regular-season with 36 wins, good enough for top spot in the American League Central Division, but failed to advance past the Wild Card round in the playoffs, losing to the Houston Astros.
