The Toronto Blue Jays announced on Thursday they have decided to bring back pitcher John Axford of Simcoe, Ontario and sign him to a minor league deal. If Axford is able to crack the Blue Jays lineup in 2019, he will receive a salary of $1.65 million.
Axford pitched 45 games for the Blue Jays in 2018. He had a record of four wins and one loss with an earned run average of 4.41 and a WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched) of 1.26. Axford pitched 51 innings, and had 50 strikeouts compared to only 20 walks. He also gave up 25 earned runs and 44 hits.
Axford also made his first career Major League Baseball start in 2019. He pitched the first three innings in the Blue Jays’ 9-5 loss to the Chicago White Sox on July 28. Axford had three strikeouts, gave up zero earned runs and surrendered only one hit.
The Blue Jays meanwhile traded Axford to the Los Angeles Dodgers for minor league relief pitcher Corey Copping on July 31, 2018. Axford struggled with the Dodgers as he pitched five games and had an earned run average of 17.18.
Axford has pitched 10 seasons of Major League Baseball. In addition to the Blue Jays and Dodgers, he has pitched with the Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates, Colorado Rockies and Oakland Athletics. While with the Brewers in 2011, he led the National League with 46 saves.
