Blue Jays Sign Ryan Dull To Minor League Deal

The Blue Jays are have signed free-agent right-hander Ryan Dull to a minor league contract, according to Robert Murray. The deal comes with an invite to Major League camp.

The 30-year-old Dull split his 2019 season between four organizations, starting the season with the A’s and later being claimed off waivers by the Giants, Yankees, and Blue Jays, with whom he finished the season. He elected free agency after Toronto designated him for assignment in late October, but will now return to the organization with a chance to make the big league roster out of Spring Training.

The last couple of years have not treated Dull well, after he made a name for himself with a stellar 2016 season for the Athletics. He only managed 12 2/3 Major League innings last year while being yanked across the country, and struggled when he did get into games, surrendering 18 earned runs.

He’ll join a Blue Jays bullpen that looks relatively thin at this juncture. He should slot in behind the trio of Ken Giles, Anthony Bass, and new addition Shun Yamaguchi (though the latter could also have a shot at the starting rotation). That puts him on roughly the same footing as a group of inexperienced hurlers that includes Thomas Pannone, Trent Thornton, and Jordan Romano, among others. Dull should have a decent shot at breaking camp with the Major League team, and otherwise looks like a good bet to get a shot at some point this year.