The Blue Jays have signed 28-year old lefty reliever Mike Hinckley to a minor league deal. Hinckley pitched in 30 games (1 start) in AA+AAA-ball last season and he was 1-5 with a 3.86 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. He has also pitched in 28 games (0 starts) in his 2 years in the majors and he is 0-0 with a 1.93 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. The Jays like to stockpile lefty relievers so I like this signing for them.

Cito Gaston finished 5th in the voting for the A.L. Manager of the Year Award. He led the Blue Jays to a 85-77 (52.5%) record in the rough and tumble A.L. East. In any other division in baseball, I think the Blue Jays would have been a playoff team. Gaston managed the Blue Jays for 12 seasons in which he was 894-837 (51.6%) during the regular season and he was 18-16 (52.9%) in the post season. Gaston led the Blue Jays to World Series Championships in 1992+1993. I hope he enjoys a long and healthy retirement.

The Blue Jays have acquired 30-year old righty swinging outfielder Rajai Davis from the A’s for 25-year old righty reliever Trystan Magnuson and 23-year old righty reliever Danny Farquhar. Davis will add a ton of speed to the Blue Jays’ lineup which is something they sorely lacked last season. Davis played in 143 games for the A’s last season and he was 149 of 525 (.284 avg, .697 OPS) with 66 runs scored, 5 homers, 52 RBIs and 50 stolen bases. He has now played in 476 games in his first five years in the majors and he is 375 of 1,333 (.281 avg, .713 OPS) with 194 runs scored, 12 homers, 128 RBIs and 143 stolen bases.

Trystan Magnuson was the Blue Jays’ #22 prospect heading into last season according to Baseball America. He pitched in 46 games (0 starts) in AA-ball last season and he was 3-0 with 5 saves, a 2.58 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. In three years in the minors, Magnuson has pitched in 113 games (24 starts) in which he is 8-10 with 6 saves, a 3.53 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. Danny Farquhar was the #14 prospect of the Blue Jays heading into last season according to Baseball America. He pitched in 53 games (0 starts) in AA-ball last season and he was 4-3 with 17 saves, a 3.52 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. In his first three years in the minors, Farquhar pitched in 122 games (0 starts) in which he was 8-9 with 39 saves, a 2.62 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. He only gave up 111 hits while whiffing 184 batters in 171 2/3 minor league innings for the Blue Jays. The Blue Jays appear to have paid top price for Davis but he will give them a lot of steals which is something the offense sorely lacked in 2010.

The Toronto Blue Jays have released 29-year old righty starting pitcher Shawn Hill. Hill started 4 games for the Blue Jays last season and he was 1-2 with a 2.61 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. He has pitched in 44 games (all starts) in parts of six years in the majors and he is 9-18 with a 4.74 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. Hill has talent and he pitched well for the Blue Jays last season but he’s very injury prone. Some team will give him a chance next spring.

The Blue Jays have lost 29-year old righty reliever Taylor Buchholz on waivers to the Red Sox. Buchholz pitched in 2 games for the Blue Jays last season and he worked 2 scoreless innings without allowing any baserunners. He pitched in 9 games (0 starts) overall last season with the Rockies & Blue Jays and he was 1-0 with a 3.75 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. The Blue Jays’ front office likely isn’t too happy with where Buchholz landed but that’s the chance you take when you waive a player.