Blue Jays sign former NPB pitcher Rafael Dolis

Photo credit: Frank Victores, USA Today Sports
Jan 25, 2020, 00:29 ESTUpdated: Feb 8, 2020, 19:55 EST
According to Scott Mitchell of TSN, the Blue Jays are signing RHP Rafael Dolis to a one-year deal plus a team option. Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet confirmed the report shortly after.
Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi reports that Dolis will earn $1 million plus performance bonuses in 2020, and that the 2021 option is worth $1.5 million with no buyout. Davidi also notes that the team will need to make a move to free up a 40-man roster spot. On February 8, the team confirmed the signing, announcing that they had designated infielder Breyvic Valera for assignment as a corresponding move.
Dolis, 32, appeared most recently for the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), tossing 57.1 innings to an ERA of 2.51, striking out 52 and walking 12 in 2019. Before that, he briefly appeared in the majors for the Chicago Cubs in parts of three seasons. In four seasons in Japan, he racked up 96 saves.
In total, the native of La Romano, Dominican Republic has appeared in over 200 MiLB games in the Cubs, Tigers, and Giants organizations.
This article has been updated from its original form to include confirmations from other reporters, as well as more detailed statistics.
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