The Blue Jays have signed 27-year old righty reliever/starter Robert Coello to a minor league deal. Coello pitched in 34 games (15 starts) in AA+AAA-ball for the Cubs last year and he was 7-8 with 1 save, a 4.19 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. His only major league experience came back in 2010 with the Red Sox. He pitched in 6 games (0 starts) for the Red Sox in 2010 and he was 0-0 with a 4.76 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP. Coello will likely have a shot to win a job in the bullpen next spring.

29-year old lefty swinging 2B Kelly Johnson has accepted arbitration, so he will remain the starting 2B of the Blue Jays in 2012. Johnson played in 33 games for the Jays last year and he was 31 of 115 (.270 avg, .781 OPS) with 16 runs scored, 3 homers, 9 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. He played in 147 games overall for the D-Backs and Blue Jays last year and he was 121 of 545 (.222 avg, .717 OPS) with 75 runs scored, 21 homers, 58 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. Johnson has now played in 791 games in his first six years in the majors and he is 726 for 2,791 (.260 avg, .784 OPS) with 438 runs scored, 92 homers, 335 RBIs and 58 stolen bases.

The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired righty reliever Sergio Santos from the White Sox for 22-year old righty starter/reliever Nestor Molina. Santos pitched in 63 games (0 starts) for the White Sox last year and he was 4-5 with 30 saves, a 3.55 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. He has now pitched in 119 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 6-7 with 31 saves, a 3.29 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. Santos will take over as the Blue Jays closer in 2012. Santos misses a lot of bats as he has only given up 94 hits while whiffing 148 batters in his first 115 innings of his major league career, which is downright impressive. But, he has control issues as he has walked 55 batters so far in the majors, so he’s not without flaws. If he tightens up his control a little more, he will be one of the most dominating closers in baseball, as his stuff is that good! Nestor Molina pitched in 26 games (23 starts) in A+AA-ball for the Blue Jays last year and he was 12-3 with a 2.21 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP, so Santos didn’t come cheap. I still really like this deal for the Blue Jays.

The Blue Jays have acquired 28-year old righty swinging catcher Jeff Mathis from the Angels for 26-year old lefty starting pitcher Brad Mills. Mathis played in 93 games for the Angels last year and he was 43 of 247 (.174 avg, .484 OPS) with 18 runs scored, 3 homers, 22 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He has now played in 426 games in his first 7 years in the majors and he is 233 of 1,201 (.194 avg, .557 OPS) with 132 runs scored, 26 homers, 139 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. Mathis will replace Jose Molina (signed with the Rays) as J.P. Arencibia’s backup catcher in 2012. He is a good defensive catcher but he can’t hit at all. Brad Mills pitched in 5 games (4 starts) for the Blue Jays last year and he was 1-2 with a 9.82 ERA and a 1.91 WHIP. Mills pitched in 14 games (9 starts) in his three years with the Blue Jays and he was 2-3 with a 8.57 ERA and a 1.82 WHIP. The Blue Jays are essentially giving up on Mills.

The Blue Jays have signed 28-year old righty reliever Garrett Mock to a minor league deal. Mock pitched in 1 game (1 start) for the Nationals last year and he was 0-0 with a 5.40 ERA and a 2.70 WHIP. He also pitched in 26 games (7 starts) in four minor league levels last year and he was 1-5 with a 6.39 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP. Mock has now pitched in 55 games (19 starts) in his first three years in the majors and he is 4-13 with a 5.17 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP. Mock will have a chance to make the Blue Jays’ bullpen next spring.