Joba Chamberlain Opts Out Of Blue Jays Deal

10:03pm: Chamberlain exercised an out clause in his contract, according to the Blue Jays (hat tip: Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet, on Twitter).

9:50pm: The Blue Jays have released right-hander Joba Chamberlain from their Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo, the team announced (Twitter link).

The 29-year-old Chamberlain signed a minor league deal with the Blue Jays on July 21 after being released by the Tigers. However, after 22 shaky innings with the Tigers this year, Chamberlain struggled in even more dramatic fashion with Toronto’s top minor league affiliate. Appearing in seven games, Chamberlain totaled just five innings and surrendered 10 runs (eight earned) on nine hits and four walks with seven strikeouts.

Chamberlain’s average fastball velocity remained strong at 93.5 mph this season, but his strikeout and swinging-strike rates both dipped, and he was exceptionally homer-prone, yielding five homers in his 22 frames.

Toronto was on the lookout for bullpen help at the time that Chamberlain was signed, but the relief corps there has since been solidified. LaTroy Hawkins was acquired alongside Troy Tulowitzki in a blockbuster deal with the Rockies, and GM Alex Anthopoulos also acquired Mark Lowe from the Mariners. The addition of David Price in a second Anthopoulos blockbuster has allowed the Blue Jays to deploy Aaron Sanchez in a relief role, adding another strong arm to the late-inning relief mix.