Report: Blue Jays interested in Blevins as Cecil replacement
The Toronto Blue Jays' bullpen took a hit on Saturday after left-hander Brett Cecil departed for a four-year, $30.5-million contract with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Toronto is now in need of a replacement for the southpaw and has its eyes on free-agent left-hander Jerry Blevins, reports Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith.
Blevins, 33, spent the past two seasons in New York with the Mets, appearing in 73 games for the club in 2016. The veteran reliever struck out 11.1 hitters per nine innings, which was good for second among free-agent lefties behind only Aroldis Chapman.
Blevins in 2016
| G | IP | ERA | WHIP | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 73 | 42 | 2.79 | 1.21 | 52 |
Over the course of his 10-year career, Blevins has appeared in 425 games, posting a 3.44 ERA and 1.20 WHIP during stints with the Mets, Washington Nationals, and Oakland Athletics.