Axford inks minor-league deal with Jays
The Ax Man cometh.
Canadian right-hander John Axford, once the top reliever in the National League, signed a minor-league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday that includes an invitation to big-league camp in Dunedin, starting next week.
The deal was first reported by MLB insider Ken Rosenthal.
A native of Port Dover, Ont., Axford pitched 21 innings for the Oakland A’s last season with a 6.43 ERA with 21 strikeouts before being released on Aug. 1. He signed a two-year, US$10-million contract with the A’s in December of 2015 and in the 2016 season appeared in 68 games, earning three saves in 10 chances. He had a 3.97 ERA.
Drafted by Seattle and Cincinnati, Axford signed with the Milwaukee Brewers in March of 2008 and has enjoyed a nine-year career in the big leagues, posting a 3.71 ERA in 493 games, with 144 saves.
Meanwhile, Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson says he hasn’t asked for a contract extension beyond next season, but reiterated he’d like to remain in Toronto.
The 2015 American League MVP, set to become a free agent after the upcoming season, took to Twitter Thursday to chastise a report from Jon Heyman suggesting Donaldson may be asking for too much money. Heyman, in a column published Thursday on Fanragsports.com, said Donaldson “is believed to be seeking a monster payday, according to friends. And while he may not hit his goal (some think he may be shooting too high), he benefits from Baltimore Orioles’ Manny Machado’s move to shortstop since he’d become the top third base option if Machado stays at shortstop as a free agent.”
Donaldson replied to Heyman with a two-part tweet.
“I respect what you do for a living, but you don’t know my friends. Nor do my friends know what I want, because there is still information to be gathered. I haven’t asked for anything. What I have said is I would like to stay,” Donaldson wrote.
Donaldson and the Blue Jays avoided arbitration last month by agreeing on a US$23-million, one-year contact — the largest one-year deal for an arbitrationeligible player.
The contract gives Donaldson a $6-million raise while also making the three-time all-star the highest paid player on the Jays’ roster.