Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Brian Tallet throws off the mound at the Blue Jays' spring training baseball facility in Dunedin, Fla. Monday, March 1, 2010.Darren Calabrese
The Toronto Blue Jays have officially severed ties with versatile left-handed pitcher Brian Tallet.
The 33-year-old turned down the Blue Jays arbitration offer prior to Tuesday night's midnight deadline, opting to sign a one-year free-agent deal with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Reliever Scott Downs and closer Kevin Gregg have also rejected the Blue Jays arbitration offer according to several media reports that also casts them into Major League Baseball's free agent pool.
Downs is classified as a Type A free agent and should he sign with another team the Blue Jays could receive a first-round draft pick and a supplemental pick between the first and second rounds.
As a Type B, Gregg would fetch the Blue Jays the supplemental pick only.
It was also reported reliever Jason Frasor, also a Type A free agent, has agreed to accept the Blue Jays arbitration offer.
Tallet had a tough season with the Blue Jays this past year with a 6.40 ERA, allowing 20 home runs in 77 1/3-innings pitched.
Those unsightly numbers were reflected in the $750,000 he accepted from the Cardinals after making $2-million with the Jays in 2010.
Blue Jays manager Alex Anthopoulos was unavailable to comment Tuesday night.