Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Jeff Francis throws against the Toronto Blue Jays during first inning MLB baseball action in Toronto Thursday, August 25, 2011. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren CalabreseDarren Calabrese/The Canadian Press
The Toronto Blue Jays have signed Canadian pitcher Jeff Francis to a minor-league contract and claimed outfielder Andy Dirks off waivers from the Detroit Tigers.
Francis, a 33-year-old from North Delta, B.C., pitched in 12 games this past season for the Yankees, Athletics and Reds. The veteran of 10 major-league seasons got an invitation to spring training with the Blue Jays as part of the deal.
Dirks, 28, played in just 14 minor-league games in 2014 after recovering from March back surgery.
An eighth-round pick of the Tigers in 2008, Dirks spent time with Detroit from 2011-'13 and hit .276 with 24 home runs and 100 RBIs in 297 games.
Dirks had a career-high batting average of .322 and an OPS of .857 in 2012.