The Blue Jays announced that left-hander Darren Oliver will return to the team in 2013. The 42-year-old reliever will earn $3MM this coming season, as the Blue Jays exercised his option earlier in the offseason.
Oliver, a Frye McCann Sports client, wanted the Blue Jays to increase his salary, Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reported this month. The veteran reportedly planned to retire if Toronto didn't give him a bump from his $3MM salary and sources indicated that he would have welcomed a trade back to the Rangers as his family lives in the area.
Instead of calling it quits or being traded elsewhere, he'll return for a 20th MLB season without a raise. Oliver posted a 2.06 ERA with 8.3 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 in 56 2/3 innings this past season. Despite his advanced age, Oliver has made more than 60 relief appearances in each of the past four seasons.
