Blue Jays ink RHP Clippard to minors contract

The Toronto Blue Jays announced the signing of former closer Tyler Clippard to a minor league contract with an invite to major league spring training on Wednesday.

Clippard, 33, pitched in the majors for three teams last season, posting a 2-8 record and 4.77 ERA in 67 games. He began the year with the New York Yankees before being traded in July to the Chicago White Sox, who then flipped him to the Houston Astros a month later. The right-hander was left off the Astros' postseason roster after registering a 6.43 ERA in 16 games with Houston.

Last season was Clippard's worst in the majors as a reliever. He excelled coming out of the bullpen for the Washington Nationals from 2009-14, twice being named an All-Star in that span and racking up 32 saves in 2012. He had five saves in 2017 and last reached double digits in that category between the Oakland Athletics and New York Mets in 2015.

Clippard owns a career 3.11 ERA in 625 major league games (eight starts). He'll serve as depth for a Blue Jays bullpen led by All-Star closer Roberto Osuna.

--Field Level Media