The Toronto Blue Jays have claimed 28-year old righty reliever Jesse Chavez off waivers from the Royals. Chavez pitched in 4 games (0 starts) for the Royals last year and he was 0-0 with a 10.57 ERA and a 2.22 WHIP. He also pitched in 45 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 2-4 with 16 saves, a 3.75 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. Chavez has pitched in 143 games (0 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 6-10 with a 5.36 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. I like this pickup for the Blue Jays as Chavez has a pretty live arm.

UPDATE: (12/12/2011) - The Blue Jays have designated Jesse Chavez for assignment.

UPDATE: (12/16/2011) - Jesse Chavez has cleared waivers and he has accepted an outright assignment to AAA.

29-year old lefty reliever Rommie Lewis has elected to become a free agent. Lewis pitched in 6 games (0 starts) for the Blue Jays last year and he was 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA and a 2.80 WHIP. He pitched in 20 games (0 starts) in his two years with the Blue Jays and he was 0-0 with a 7.23 ERA and a 1.78 WHIP. The Jays aren’t going to miss Lewis at all. The only reason some other team will give him a chance over the winter is because he’s a lefty.

35-year old righty swinging infielder Chris Woodward has elected to become a free agent. Woodward played in 11 games for the Blue Jays last year and he was 0 for 10 (.000 avg, 000 OPS) with 3 runs scored. He played in 362 games in his seven years with the Blue Jays and he was 264 of 1,077 (.245 avg, .692 OPS) with 147 runs scored, 26 homers, 135 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. This isn’t much of a loss for the Blue Jays.

The Toronto Blue Jays will have seven free agents shortly after the World Series is over. Here is who I think is staying and walking in that bunch:

Jose Molina: 36-year old righty swinging catcher Jose Molina played in 55 games for the Blue Jays last year and he was 48 for 171 (.281 avg, 757 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 3 homers, 15 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He works well with pitchers and he still throws really well. PREDICTION: STAYING

Kelly Johnson: 29-year old lefty swinging 2B Kelly Johnson played in 33 games for the Blue Jays last year and he was 31 for 115 (.270 avg, .781 OPS) with 16 runs scored, 3 homers, 9 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Johnson played in 147 games for the D-Backs & Blue Jays overall last year and he was 121 of 545 (.222 avg, .717 OPS) with 75 runs scored, 21 homers, 58 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. As long as Johnson comes back at a respectable price, I think the Jays like him. PREDICTION: STAYING

Edwin Encarnacion: 28-year old righty swinging 3B/1B/DH Edwin Encarnacion played in 134 games for the Jays last year and he was 131 of 481 (.272 avg, .787 OPS) with 70 runs scored, 17 homers, 55 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. The Blue Jays hold a $3.5 million dollar option for 2012 on Encarnacion with a $500,000 buyout. PREDICTION: STAYING

Kyle Davies: The Jays signed 28-year old righty Kyle Davies to a minor league deal after the Royals cut him loose. He pitched in 6 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball for the Blue Jays and he was 0-0 with a 3.38 ERA and a 0.75 WHIP. Davies also pitched in 13 games (all starts) for the Royals last year and he was 1-9 with a 6.75 ERA and a 1.79 WHIP. PREDICTION: STAYING ON A MINOR LEAGUE DEAL

Frank Francisco: 32-year old righty reliever Frank Francisco pitched in 54 games (0 starts) for the Jays last year and he was 1-4 with 17 saves, a 3.55 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. I think he will get a bigger offer from another team over the winter. PREDICTION: LEAVING

Jon Rauch: 33-year old righty reliever Jon Rauch pitched in 53 games (0 starts) for the Blue Jays last season and he was 5-4 with 11 saves, a 4.85 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. The Blue Jays hold a $3.75 million dollar club option on Rauch with a $250,000 buyout. PREDICTION: LEAVING

Shawn Camp: 35-year old righty reliever Shawn Camp pitched in 67 games (0 starts) for the Blue Jays in 2011 and he was 6-3 with 1 save, a 4.21 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. PREDICTION: LEAVING

33-year old lefty swinging outfielder DeWayne Wise has rejected an outright assignment from the Blue Jays and thus has become a free agent. Wise played in 20 games for the Blue Jays in 2011 and he was 4 for 32 (.125 avg, .500 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 2 homers, 2 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He has played in 142 games in his four years with the Jays and he was 55 for 278 (.198 avg, .567 OPS) with 41 runs scored, 8 homers, 29 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. The Blue Jays aren’t going to miss him too much going forward.