Jays secure last arbitration-eligible player

The Toronto Blue Jays agreed to terms Saturday on a one-year, $750,000 US contract with reliever Shawn Camp, the team's final arbitration-eligible player.

Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi has never taken a player to a hearing since joining the team after the 2001 season and the Jays haven't gone to arbitration since failing to agree with Bill Risley in 1997, when Gord Ash was GM.

On Thursday, Ricciardi avoided arbitration with key bullpen member Brian Tallet by giving him a one-year, $1.015-million deal.

Camp, 33, made 40 relief appearances last season, his first with Toronto. The right-hander went 3-1 with a 4.12 earned-run average, 31 strikeouts and 11 walks in 39 1/3 innings.

Camp, who made $405,000 in 2008, was asking for $950,000 this time around while the Jays offered $700,000.

The Blue Jays open spring training in Dunedin, Fla., on Feb. 16, when pitchers and catchers are expected to report.