Report: Blue Jays won't deal reliever Darren Oliver
It is unlikely that the Blue Jays will deal reliever Darren Oliver to the Rangers. The Blue Jays don't expect Oliver, who has talked of retiring, to return next season.
It is unlikely that the Blue Jays will deal reliever Darren Oliver to the Rangers, according to MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan.
The 42-year-old Oliver has a year left on his deal with Toronto but was contemplating retirement during the offseason. Oliver’s agent recently told the team that he would only return if the team increased his $3 million salary for next season. If the Blue Jays were not willing to give him a better deal, he requested to be traded to the Rangers.
The two sides have discussed a deal, but industry sources told Sullivan it’s “unlikely to happen.” The Blue Jays are moving forward with the expectation that Oliver will not return next season.
A 19-year MLB veteran, Oliver spent 10 seasons with the Rangers. In 56.2 innings last season with Toronto, Oliver had a 2.06 ERA and a 2.95 FIP. Oliver has posted a sub-3.00 ERA in each of the past five seasons.
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