TORONTO - The Toronto Blue Jays and reliever Brandon League agreed to a US$640,000, one-year deal Monday to avoid arbitration.
League, 25, went 1-2 with a save and 2.18 earned-run average over 31 relief appearances.
He allowed just 28 hits in 33 innings with 15 walks and 23 strikeouts, gaining manager Cito Gaston's confidence to pitch in the late innings of close games.
In parts of five big-league seasons, the six-foot-two, 205-pound right-hander is 4-4 record with six saves and a 4.81 ERA in 101 games.
The Blue Jays have five arbitration-eligible players remaining: relievers Jeremy Accardo, Shawn Camp, Jason Frasor and Brian Tallet plus utilityman Jose Bautista.
Players who don't settle by Tuesday will exchange figures with their clubs. Hearings take place next month.
J.P. Ricciardi hasn't gone to arbitration with a player since taking over as Blue Jays general manager in 2001.
Bill Risley was the last Toronto player to have his case end up in a hearing, back in 1997.
