Drew Hutchison Opts Out Of Deal With Blue Jays

The Blue Jays starting pitching depth took a hit with Hutchison opting out of his minor-league deal.

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Drew Hutchison has opted out of his deal with the Blue Jays.

The 32-year-old started nine games in Triple-A this season, posting a 5.66 ERA in 35 innings. He was released to free agency on Friday, exercising an opt-out in the minor-league deal he signed with Toronto in January.

With seven seasons of big league experience, Hutchison represented some of Toronto's top minor-league pitching depth. The righty has started 99 games at the MLB level, owning a career 4.89 ERA. He debuted with the Blue Jays in 2012 and pitched parts of four seasons with Toronto.

With Hutchison out of the organization, Toronto's next starting pitching options include Zach Thompson, Mitch White, Casey Lawrence, and Bowden Francis. All four pitched in the big leagues last season, but only Francis has an ERA under four in Triple-A so far this year.

Mitch White entered the season as the team's natural sixth starter but has yet to pitch at the MLB level due to nagging shoulder and elbow injuries. 

He is currently pitching on a rehab assignment with the Bisons, posting an 11.42 ERA in 17.1 innings. White has no minor-league options remaining, meaning the Jays will soon have to make a decision on how or if he'll fit on the MLB roster.

"Physically [White's] feeling okay," manager John Schneider said. "But he's expressed it to us that he just wants to have the execution to be better."