The Blue Jays have signed 26-year old shortstop Brian Bocock to a minor league deal. He played in 97 games in A+AAA-ball last year and he was 70 for 308 (.227 avg, .584 OPS) with 26 runs scored, 4 homers, 29 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Bocock last played in the majors back in 2010 for the Phillies. He has played in 38 games in his first two years in the majors and he is 11 for 82 (.134 avg, .391 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 2 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. As you can tell, Bocock is known a lot more for his prowess with the mitt than with the bat. He will likely be stashed in AAA when the 2012 season begins.

The Blue Jays have signed 26-year old lefty reliever/starter Aaron Laffey to a split contract. He pitched in 47 games for the Yankees and Mariners last year and he was 3-2 with a 3.88 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP. Laffey has now pitched in 126 games (49 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 21-23 with 1 save, a 4.34 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP. Laffey could wind up being the long man in the Blue Jays bullpen in 2012 if he has a strong spring training.

The Blue Jays have signed 41-year old lefty reliever Darren Oliver to a 1-year deal, with a club option for 2013. Oliver pitched in 61 games (0 starts) for the Rangers last year and he was 5-5 with 2 saves, a 2.29 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. He has now pitched in 654 games (229 starts) in his first 18 years in the majors and he is 112-90 with 5 saves, a 4.60 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. Oliver will be the Blue Jays’ top lefty reliever and he will be working late in games setting up closer Sergio Santos. This was a good move for the Blue Jays as Oliver has been outstanding as a reliever in his career so far after struggling early on as a starting pitcher.

The Blue Jays have claimed 28-year old righty reliever Jim Hoey off waivers from the Twins. Hoey pitched in 26 games (0 starts) for the Twins last year and he was 1-2 with a 5.47 ERA and a 1.91 WHIP. He has now pitched in 61 games (0 starts) in parts of three years in the majors and he is 4-7 with a 7.02 ERA and a 1.85 WHIP. Hoey has always been a solid pitcher in the minors, so maybe a change of scenery will do him some good.

The Blue Jays have acquired 30-year old righty swinging outfielder Ben Francisco from the Phillies for 26-year old lefty reliever Frank Gailey. Francisco played in 100 games for the Phillies last year and he was 61 for 250 (.244 avg, .704 OPS) with 24 runs scored, 6 homers, 34 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. He has now played in 460 games in his first five years in the majors and he is 349 for 1,343 (.260 avg, .762 OPS) with 181 runs scored, 45 homers, 174 RBIs and 30 stolen bases. This was a good pickup for the Blue Jays as Francisco can handle all three spots in the outfield defensively and he has some thunder in his stick. Frank Gailey pitched in 45 games (0 starts) in A+AA-ball last year and he was 5-6 with 2 saves, a 3.41 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP.