Shortstop eyed by Jays expected to stay in Japan

Takashi Toritani, the Japanese shortstop whom the Blue Jays were reportedly pursuing to fill their second-base hole, has decided to stay in his native country, according to various reports out of Japan. The 33year-old, who had enlisted notorious baseball agent Scott Boras to help test his major-league market, was described by Boras as the “Cal Ripken Jr. of Japan,” a reference to his record 1,444 consecutive games streak with the Hanshin Tigers. He will now be able to add to that streak, and likely on a much more lucrative deal than he could have found in North America.

Barring a trade, the Jays are expected to open spring training with some combination of Maicer Izturis and Ryan Goins at second base, with minor-league prospect Devon Travis waiting in the wings.

In other news involving former Jays, catcher J.P. Arencibia has signed a minor-league deal with the Baltimore Orioles. The former firstround pick — who holds the Jays’ single-season home-run record for catchers — was non-tendered by the Jays after the 2013 season and spent last season splitting time with the Texas Rangers and their Triple-A affiliate. He hit .177 with a .239 on-base percentage with10 home runs in 222 big-league plate appearances last season.

The Orioles are also reportedly pursuing another former Blue Jay in Colby Rasmus, a free agent who spent the last 31⁄ seasons in Toron

2 to. Baltimore is apparently interested in Rasmus on a one-year deal, giving the 28-year-old a chance to rebuild his market value before taking another run at free agency next year.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter met with Rasmus earlier this month and ESPN’s Jim Bowden reported Thursday that talks were “gaining steam.”