BLUE JAYS CLAIM JIM HOEY, SIGN LITSCH AND McGOWAN

By ROCKET SPORTS and ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK on December 16, 2011

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Dustin McGowan and Jesse Litsch (Eddie Michels file photo)
Monday, December 12, 2011 courtesy of the Toronto Blue Jays

The TORONTO BLUE JAYS have claimed RHP JIM HOEY off waivers from the Minnesota Twins and have outrighted C BRIAN JEROLOMAN and RHP DREW CARPENTER to Las Vegas of the Pacific Coast League (AAA).

HOEY, 28, appeared in 26 games for the Twins last season, posting a 1-2 record with a 5.47 ERA. The 6-6, 210 lb. right-hander also appeared in 33 games for the Rochester Red Wings of the International League (AAA), posting a 1-3 record with nine saves and a 3.83 ERA. The Trenton, New Jersey native has a career record of 4-7 with a 7.02 ERA in 61 games over three seasons with Baltimore (2006-07) and Minnesota.

The Blue Jays currently have 40 players on the 40-man roster.

The TORONTO BLUE JAYS have signed arbitration eligible players RHP JESSE LITSCH (US $975,000) and RHP DUSTIN McGOWAN (US $600,000) to one year contracts for the 2012 season.

This brings the total number of players unsigned and eligible for arbitration to seven (RHP Casey Janssen, RHP Brandon Morrow, RHP Carlos Villanueva, 2B Kelly Johnson, C Jeff Mathis, OF Colby Rasmus and OF Ben Francisco).