Blue Jays, Casey Janssen Avoid Arbitration

The Toronto Blue Jays and reliever Casey Janssen are nearing a two-year deal with an option to successfully avoid salary arbitration, reports Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.

If the Blue Jays can dot the i's and cross the t's with Janssen, the Blue Jays won't go to any arbitration hearings and keep their streak alive (see below). Meanwhile for Janssen, who was set to free agency at the end of the season, now is guaranteed money through the 2013 season.

Janssen, 30, is coming off a career year in which he posted a 2.26 ERA across 55 2/3 innings of work with a fantastic 8.6 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9. According to FanGraphs, the righty was worth 1.3 WAR (wins above replacement).

• Twitter / @ShiDavidi: Source: Blue Jays and reliever Casey Janssen nearing agreement on two-year deal plus option, will avoid arbitration.
• Twitter / @ShiDavidi: Looming Janssen deal keeps Blue Jays run of avoiding arbitration since Bill Risely in 1997 intact.