Richard Lovelady, once a reliever for the Toronto Blue Jays, has opted out of his minor-league contract with the Minnesota Twins. Despite a strong performance in Triple-A St. Paul, boasting a 1.31 ERA and six saves in 20.2 innings, Lovelady was not promoted to the majors. With a track record that includes stints with five MLB teams since 2019, Lovelady is now a free agent, likely to attract interest from teams searching for veteran pitching depth.

The Twins, currently fighting for an AL Wild Card spot at 36-36, may have missed an opportunity to bolster their bullpen with Lovelady's potential. As he embarks on another journey in free agency, teams might look to benefit from his experience and recent success.

The Toronto Blue Jays have strengthened their roster ahead of spring training by signing catcher Christian Bethancourt and left-handed pitcher Richard Lovelady to minor league contracts. Both players will join the team in spring training, providing additional depth as the Jays prepare for the season.

Bethancourt, a 33-year-old from Panama, has eight years of MLB experience with teams like the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins. He played 62 games in the previous season, combining for a .241 batting average. His career numbers show a modest .259 batting average with 35 home runs, indicating his role more as a reliable catcher than a power hitter.

Currently, the Blue Jays have only two catchers on their 40-man roster, Alejandro Kirk and Tyler Heineman, making Bethancourt's signing a strategic move to bolster depth at the position.

On the pitching side, 29-year-old Lovelady brings experience from five MLB seasons, primarily with the Kansas City Royals and Tampa Bay Rays. With a career ERA of 4.98 over 99.1 innings, he pitched a career-high 35 games last season. His acquisition is part of the Jays' attempt to revitalize a struggling bullpen, which already saw additions in the offseason.