The Toronto Blue Jays announced that veteran reliever Darren Oliver will return to the team in 2013. Oliver made 62 appearances for the team in 2012, going 3-4 with a 2.06 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 52 strikeouts in 56 2/3 innings. Oliver has a career 3.13 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 563 1/3 innings as a reliever. Oliver will make $3 million this season, is 20th in the major leagues.
Over his career the well-traveled Oliver has pitched with the Texas Rangers, St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies, Miami Marlins, Houston Astros, New York Mets, and Los Angeles Angels. Oliver had contemplated retirement and told the Blue Jays he would not return if he didn’t receive a raise on his $3 million contract or trade him to the Rangers. Apparently, Oliver relented on his request, as the Blue Jays exercised their team option on the 42-year-old reliever.
Oliver will be part of a bullpen that is backing up a much improved Toronto rotation. The Jays traded for National League Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey in mid-December and acquired starters Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle in the blockbuster trade with the Miami Marlins in November.
