36 A.J. Cole RP

Cole signed a minor-league contract with the Blue Jays on Friday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Cole was non-tendered by Toronto at the beginning of December, but he'll return to the team on a contract that will pay him $1 million if he makes the major-league roster. The right-hander received an invite to spring training and should compete for a spot in the bullpen after posting a 3.09 ERA and 1.20 WHIP over 23.1 relief innings in 2020.

Cole was non-tendered by the Blue Jays on Wednesday.

Cole posted a respectable 3.09 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 20 strikeouts in 23.1 innings (24 appearances) last season, but Toronto did not want to pay him in arbitration. He should be able to catch on with a big-league deal somewhere, likely working as a middle reliever.

Cole (3-0) tossed a scoreless fifth inning to become the pitcher of record in Toronto's 14-1 victory over the Yankees on Wednesday. He walked one and struck out one.

Starter Robbie Ray was solid, but got pulled after four innings of work. Making his 23rd appearance of the season, Cole dropped his ERA to 3.22. He resides in the top 10 percent of qualified pitchers in expected ERA and hard-hit rate allowed.

Cole (2-0) recorded the win during the first game of Friday's doubleheader against the Red Sox, walking one batter in a scoreless sixth inning.

After Tanner Roark failed to last five innings and Julian Merryweather got tagged for three runs in only two-thirds of an inning, Cole was deemed the most worthy of the win among the Jays relievers. The right-hander has put together the best numbers of his career with a 1.02 ERA and 1.02 WHIP through 17.2 innings, but his 13:6 K:BB suggests he's been more lucky than dominant.

Cole allowed one hit but recorded the final out in the second game of the Blue Jays' doubleheader against the Phillies on Thursday to earn the save.

Cole entered the game with runners on second and third and a two-run lead. He allowed an infield single to J.T. Realmuto -- the first batter he faced -- but rebounded to strike out Roman Quinn for the final out. It was his first save of the season, though Cole has been dependable early on, maintaining a 0.82 ERA with nine strikeouts across 11 frames.

Cole allowed one unearned run on two hits over 1.2 innings in Sunday's loss to the Rays. He was charged with a blown save.

Cole allowed just a pair of singles in the seventh inning, but a fielding error allowed Austin Meadows to tie the contest. It was the first run Cole has allowed this season, but fortunately his ERA stays at a perfect 0.00 in 9.2 innings.

Cole will be a part of the Blue Jays' 60-man roster.

Cole signed with the Blue Jays in November as a non-roster invitee, and he'll get a chance to compete for a spot in the majors while he's with the 60-man roster. Manager Charlie Montoyo expressed optimism in February that Cole could join Toronto's rotation or factor into late-inning situations, and the right-hander tossed six scoreless innings with five strikeouts during spring training.

Manager Charlie Montoyo said Wednesday that Cole (shoulder) is a candidate for both the Blue Jays' rotation as well as the club's late-inning mix, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.

Given that Toronto bolstered its starting staff this offseason with three established arms in Hyun-Jin Ryu, Chase Anderson and Tanner Roark, a bullpen assignment seems most realistic for Cole, whose status as a non-roster invitee hurts his chances of breaking camp with the big club in any capacity. After being developed as a starter for most of his first nine pro seasons, Cole worked exclusively out of the bullpen in 2019, churning out a 3.81 ERA and 30:8 K:BB across 26 innings with Cleveland. He reported to camp fully healthy after ending last season on the Indians' injured list with a right shoulder impingement.

Cole (shoulder) agreed to a minor-league deal with the Blue Jays on Monday which includes an invite to spring training, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Whether Cole will be healthy this spring remains to be seen, as he was shut down with a shoulder impingement in mid-August. He's a decent gamble for the Blue Jays, as he posted a 3.81 ERA in 26 innings of relief for Cleveland last season.

Cole (shoulder) refused an outright assignment to the minors Monday and became a free agent.

Cole looked good in 26 innings of relief for Cleveland this season, posting a 3.81 ERA and a 30:8 K:BB. He was shut down for the year with a shoulder impingement in mid-August, however, making his status heading into spring training unclear.

Cole (shoulder) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Sunday, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Cole was placed on the injured list Aug. 10 with a right shoulder impingement. The move was made to free space on the 40-man roster and will end Cole's season.

Cole was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a right shoulder impingement, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

Cole last pitched Wednesday when he delivered 2.2 scoreless innings against the Rangers, but it's unclear when he actually sustained the injury. Hunter Wood will rejoin the Indians' bullpen in a corresponding move.

Cole allowed one run in one inning to earn the save against Kansas City on Thursday, giving up two hits and a walk while striking out one.

Having already burned through six relievers -- including usual closer Brad Hand -- after 13 innings, manager Terry Francona turned to Cole to protect a two-run lead in the bottom of the 14th. Cole nearly imploded, allowing the first three hitters to reach base before retiring Jorge Soler on a sacrifice fly to record his first out. The 27-year-old then induced another flyball out before whiffing Bubba Starling to end the game and earn his first save since 2015. He's pitched relatively well this season, picking up a pair of wins while posting a 3.63 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 26:7 K:BB in 22.1 innings out of the bullpen.

Cole was recalled by the Indians on Saturday, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Cole has an unimpressive 5.05 career ERA in 148 major-league innings. He's worked as both a starter and reliever in the past but appears to be up as a reliever this time, as he's pitched exclusively out of the pen for Triple-A Columbus this season, recording a 3.18 ERA in 17 innings. Cody Anderson was optioned in a corresponding move.

Cole was reassigned to minor-league camp Wednesday, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Cole was designated for assignment in February but still stuck around major-league camp until this point as a non-roster invitee. The 27-year-old allowed five runs (four earned) on 10 hits through eight innings this spring. He will rejoin Triple-A Columbus to begin the season.

Cole cleared waivers Monday and will remain in the Indians' organization.

Cole was outrighted to Triple-A Columbus but will still be in major-league camp as a non-roster invitee. The 27-year-old projected as a potential mid-rotation starter as a prospect but has yet to put things together at the big-league level, recording a 5.05 ERA in 148 innings.

Cole was designated for assignment by Cleveland on Monday.

Cole was removed from the roster to make way for the newly acquired Nick Wittgren, who came over in a trade from Miami. Cole lasted less than a month on the Indians' 40-man roster after being claimed from the Yankees in January and could be on his way to his third team of the offseason should any team be interested in a 27-year-old with a career 5.05 ERA.

Cole was claimed by the Indians on Friday.

Cole was designated for assignment by the Yankees a week ago, and it didn't take long for Cleveland to scoop him up. The 27-year-old right-hander spent the majority of his 2018 season in the big leagues but failed to find much success, posting a 6.14 ERA and 1.59 WHIP with 59 strikeouts over 48.1 innings. He'll aim to earn a spot in the Indians' bullpen during spring training.

Cole was designated for assignment by the Yankees on Friday to make room for new signing Troy Tulowitzki.

Cole's 4.26 ERA in 38.0 innings for the Yankees last season was at least better than the 13.06 mark he posted in 10.1 innings for the Nationals prior to a late-April trade, but he didn't do enough to convince the team to keep him on the roster. His career 5.05 ERA over parts of four seasons won't send teams scrambling to claim him off waivers, but he was formerly at least a moderately interesting prospect, so at least one team may take a chance.

Cole (neck) was activated from the 10-day DL on Tuesday.

As expected, Cole will rejoin the Yankees after appearing in a pair of minor-league rehab outings with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last week. He will slide back into a long-relief role with the Yankees moving forward.