Blue Jays sign Jaime Garcia to 1-year deal

The Blue Jays have signed lefty Jaime Garcia to a one-year deal with a club option, according to a team announcement. Garcia will receive $10 million guaranteed, a source tells SB Nation.

Garcia will earn a base salary of $8 million in 2018, with a $10 million option (or $2 million buyout) kicking in for 2019. The contract includes $2 million in incentives based on innings pitched in each season, meaning it could max out at $22 million over two years.

Garcia will join a rotation that already includes Marcus Stroman, J.A. Happ, Marco Estrada and Aaron Sanchez, providing a proven veteran arm at the back end. Toronto has been active on the position player front this winter with the additions of Curtis Granderson, Yangervis Solarte, Randal Grichuk and Aledmys Diaz, but Garcia is their first major-league pitching add.

Garcia spent time with three clubs in 2017, making 18 starts for the Braves, one for the Twins and eight for the Yankees while being traded twice in one week at the end of July. In total, he posted a 4.71 ERA in 27 starts in his first year away from St. Louis, where he spent the first eight years of his career.

Garcia was linked to the Pirates, Twins, Orioles, Brewers and Royals this winter before signing with Toronto. He’s the second veteran starter to sign with an AL East club this afternoon, joining new Oriole Andrew Cashner, who signed a two-year, $16 million deal.