One of the Blue Jays best bullpen pitchers from last year is set to return, as Yimi Garcia agrees to a two year, $15 million contract. The 34 year old reliever was dealt away from Toronto in a trade deadline deal last season, that saw him being sent to the Mariners in exchange for two minor league prospects.

Garcia was a key player for the Jays in the first half of last season, being one of the teams go-to guys out of the pen to close out a tight game. Now with the Jays looking to further bolster their pitching, especially in their bullpen that ranked as one of the leagues worst last year, Garcia is a very nice piece to build around. With rumors floating around that Toronto could be in on signing Max Fried, that could give them the chance to add on to one of the best starting rotations in baseball. Furthermore, it also would give the Jays an opportunity to slide one or more of their current rotation guys to the bullpen to pair along side Garcia. A guy like Yariel Rodriguez or Bowden Francis, who had opportunities to be starters last season might fall out of the rotation with the potential signing of Max Fried, but could still be heavily utilized as a late inning relief guy to set up Garcia to close out games. With the departure of former everyday closer Jordan Romano, the role has opened right back up for Garcia to take.

In Garcia’s 29 games with the Blue Jays last year, Garcia posted a 2.70 ERA and a 0.80 WHIP, along with recording five saves and three wins. Once he moved to Seattle, Garcia’s number drastically slipped, dropping to a 6.00 ERA in 10 games for the Mariners. Hopefully a return to familiar scenery will bring Garcia back to old form as he looks to be a key member to Toronto’s pitching staff once again this coming season.