Minor MLB Transactions: 1/25/18

Here are Thursday’s minor moves from around the league…

• The Blue Jays announced that they’ve signed righty Rhiner Cruz to a minor league deal and invited him to Major League Spring Training. The 31-year-old Cruz was the top overall selection in the Rule 5 Draft by the Astros back in 2011 and spent much of the two subsequent seasons in Houston’s bullpen. Cruz averaged better than 95 mph on his fastball but was unable to harnes his velocity in the Majors, working to a combined 5.31 ERA with 6.6 K/9, 4.7 BB/9, 1.18 HR/9 and a 37.1 percent ground-ball rate in 76 1/3 innings. Cruz scarcely pitched from 2015-16 but returned with an intriguing 2.84 ERA, 11.2 K/9, 4.3 BB/9, 0.53 HR/9 and a 40.3 percent grounder rate in 50 2/3 innings for Atlanta’s Triple-A affiliate last season. Toronto also announced its previously reported minor league deal with veteran righty Al Alburquerque this morning.