The Blue Jays pick up Rafael Dolis’ option and decline Chase Anderson’s option

It’s Transaction Friday and we have ourselves probably the most predictable and least surprising move(s) of the off-season.

The Blue Jays announced on Friday that they would be picking up Rafael Dolis’ team option and that they would be declining Chase Anderson’s team option. Dolis will have a $1,500,000 salary in 2021 while Anderson will cost the team a $500,000 buyout. His salary would have been $9,500,000.

Bringing back Dolis at $1,500,000 is a no-brainer.

While he was a little jarring to watch at times with his slow pace and propensity to make counts go full, Dolis was a very effective arm in 2020. Across 24 appearances, Dolis posted a 1.50 ERA while striking out 11.6 batters per nine. The 5.3 walks per nine were a bit of a concern, though. Still, at $1,500,000, you can’t go wrong.

And, in the same vein, not bringing back Anderson at $9,500,000 was also a no-brainer.

Acquired last winter from the Milwaukee Brewers as a salary dump, Anderson was expected to be a swing-guy for the Blue Jays who could eat innings and possibly pitch out of the bullpen. Over 10 appearances, seven of which were starts, Anderson posted an ugly 7.22 ERA. Not once in his seven starts did he pitch more than five innings.

You should be able to find a lot better on the free-agent market this winter for $9,500,000 than that.