Blue Jays among teams interested in free agent reliever Ken Giles

Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Ken Giles throws to a Baltimore Orioles batter during the eighth inning of a baseball game. (Caean Couto/AP)

The Toronto Blue Jays could look to a familiar name to provide some support in the bullpen.

A few teams, including Toronto, have shown interest in free agent reliever Ken Giles who elected for free agency after he was designated for assignment Seattle Mariners, Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith reports.

Giles underwent Tommy John surgery in October of 2020 before signing a two-year deal with Seattle despite already being sidelined for the 2021 season. With no room on the active roster, Giles was designated for assignment on Friday.

In five games this season, the 31-year-old has thrown six strikeouts through 4.1 innings but has struggled to remain in the lineup. In 2019 with the Blue Jays, Giles had 23 saves, a 1.87 ERA, 83 strikeouts and only 17 walks in 53 games

In 362 career appearances over eight big league seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, Houston Astros, Blue Jays and Seattle, Giles is 14-18 with 115 saves and a 2.71 ERA along with 484 strikeouts and 114 walks in 355.1 innings of work.

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