Report: Blue Jays close to acquiring Grilli

The Atlanta Braves are working to finalize a trade that would send veteran reliever Jason Grilli to the Toronto Blue Jays, according to MLB.com's Mark Bowman.

Shortly after reports of the trade broke, Grilli was spotted in the Atlanta outfield during batting practice ahead of the Braves' game against the San Francisco Giants. Multiple reports say the deal has yet to be approved, and it's unclear if other players are involved.

Grilli, a former closer and 2013 All-Star, saved 24 games last season for the Braves before suffering a season-ending Achilles injury that kept him sidelined for most of spring training. In 21 appearances, the 39-year-old right-hander owns a 5.29 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 17 innings.

Signed by the Braves as a free agent in 2015, Grilli's played for eight different teams during his 14-year career. The 6-foot-5 former first-round pick enjoyed his finest seasons in Pittsburgh, where he struck out 12.4 batters per nine innings while authoring a 3.01 ERA and 2.97 FIP from 2011-13.

Grilli's under contract for $3.5 million this season, and has a 2017 team option valued at $3 million with a $250,000 buyout.

The acquisition of Grilli would help bolster an underachieving Blue Jays bullpen currently without left-hander Brett Cecil, who remains sidelined with a tear in his lat. Meanwhile, Drew Storen, one of the club's key offseason acquisitions, has allowed a career-high 2.08 home runs per nine innings with a 6.75 ERA over 21 appearances.