Reliever Tallet re-signs with Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays continue to avoid salary arbitration with their players after signing reliever Brian Tallet to a one-year, $1.015-million US contract on Thursday.

Tallet, 31, went 1-2 last season with a 2.88 earned-run average during a career-high 51 relief appearances.

The baseball club hasn't been involved in an arbitration case since failing to come to terms on a contract with pitcher Bill Risley in 1997.

Tallet made $640,000 in 2008 and was seeking $1.3 million, while the Blue Jays were offering $950,000.

Right-handed reliever Shawn Camp remains the only player scheduled for arbitration for the Blue Jays in 2008.

Jays claim Beam, dump Adams

In other news Thursday, Toronto claimed right-hander T.J. Beam off waivers from the PIttsburgh Pirates.

The 28-year-old posted a 2-2 record with a 4.48 ERA in 32 games, all in relief for the Pirates last season.

Bea, who hails from Scottsdale, Ariz., has made 52 major league appearances with the New York Yankees (2006) and Pirates (2008), going 4-2 with a 5.37 ERA.

The six-foot-seven, 215-pounder has posted a 24-19 mark and 2.75 ERA in parts of five minor league seasons.

Russ Adams, a first-round pick in 2002 taken in the club's first draft under general manager J.P. Ricciardi, was designated for assignment to make room for Beam.