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TORONTO -- Frustrated with how last season ended and ready to become a full-time dad, Toronto Blue Jays reliever Darren Oliver was ready to retire after 19 seasons in the major leagues. A big trade and a visit from Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos changed that. The Blue Jays are bringing back the 42-year-old veteran for a 20th season. They previously exercised Olivers US$3-million option for the 2013 season, and announced Wednesday that they have convinced the reliever to return to Toronto. Oliver, the Blue Jays set-up man for most of 2012, posted a 2.06 earned-run average last season, his first in Toronto. It was the lowest ERA of the southpaws career and the third-lowest mark in the American League among pitchers with at least 50 innings pitched. Despite his success, he was considering retirement and wasnt prepared to return to Toronto without his wife and two children. "Ive always told you guys, Ill play until they tear my jersey off," Oliver said. "But Ive got three other people Ive got to take care of and theyre the first and foremost." Thats when Anthopoulos and director of scouting Perry Minasian made a trip to Dallas to convince Olivers family to come back. "We went out to dinner to one of our favourite restaurants in Dallas ... and we had a great time," said Oliver. "We probably sat there for three hours. "Ive known Perry for 20 years and my wife got a chance to sit and talk to him and talk to Alex." The timing of the trip likely worked in the Blue Jays favour, coming right after Toronto pulled off a blockbuster trade with the Miami Marlins that netted pitchers Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle and shortstop Jose Reyes. Oliver, who was not thrilled with the way last season ended for the Blue Jays, was now interested in the chance to join a potential winner. "Last year those last six weeks were very tough," Oliver said. "When you sit there for the last two months and we were kind of out of it ... it was like we win today, lose two, win today, lose two. It was tough. "When they made those moves ... it made that team into a really really good chance for us to get to the playoffs. Obviously at this point in my career I want to be a part of that." Oliver had a 3-4 mark last season in 62 appearances. In 716 career games, including 229 starts, he has posted a 115-94 record and a 4.53 ERA. The Blue Jays have dramatically reshaped their roster after a disappointing 73-89 campaign last year. The pitching staff is much stronger with the addition of starters Johnson, Buehrle and National League Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey. With the Blue Jays starting rotation getting an overhaul, Anthopoulos was pleased to bring a veteran presence back to the bullpen. "Its huge, maybe huge isnt a strong enough word," he said. "I mean youre talking about a left-hander that keeps putting up 2 ERAs and gets better every single year. "It blows my mind what he continues to do. When you watch him youre more amazed. Just strikes, no fear, poise." Oliver, a Kansas City native, has played for nine teams over his career, including the Texas Rangers on three separate occasions. Beats By Dre Pas Cher . The British team raised its total of golds to 22 on Tuesday and trails only superpowers China and the United States in the medal table. Beats By Dre France . Watch live coverage on TSN right now. The 1-5 Bombers are looking to new quarterback Joey Elliott to secure just their second win of the season. "The message has been sent, we have to pick it up," said veteran Winnipeg offensive lineman Glenn January. http://www.beatsbydremagasin.fr/ . He scored his 160th career goal and added a 515th assist to pass Stan Smyl and move into third place on Vancouvers all-time scoring list with 675 points. Daniel Sedin, Dale Weise, Chris Higgins and Ryan Kesler also scored for Vancouver on a night when the puck bounced the Canucks way. Beats By Dre . The fifth-seeded Mayer took advantage of seven aces toTORONTO -- Frustrated with how last season ended and ready to become a full-time dad, Toronto Blue Jays reliever Darren Oliver was ready to retire after 19 seasons in the major leagues. A big trade and a visit from Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos changed that. The Blue Jays are bringing back the 42-year-old veteran for a 20th season. They previously exercised Olivers US$3-million option for the 2013 season, and announced Wednesday that they have convinced the reliever to return to Toronto. Oliver, the Blue Jays set-up man for most of 2012, posted a 2.06 earned-run average last season, his first in Toronto. It was the lowest ERA of the southpaws career and the third-lowest mark in the American League among pitchers with at least 50 innings pitched. Despite his success, he was considering retirement and wasnt prepared to return to Toronto without his wife and two children. "Ive always told you guys, Ill play until they tear my jersey off," Oliver said. "But Ive got three other people Ive got to take care of and theyre the first and foremost." Thats when Anthopoulos and director of scouting Perry Minasian made a trip to Dallas to convince Olivers family to come back. "We went out to dinner to one of our favourite restaurants in Dallas ... and we had a great time," said Oliver. "We probably sat there for three hours. "Ive known Perry for 20 years and my wife got a chance to sit and talk to him and talk to Alex." The timing of the trip likely worked in the Blue Jays favour, coming right after Toronto pulled off a blockbuster trade with the Miami Marlins that netted pitchers Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle and shortstop Jose Reyes. Oliver, who was not thrilled with the way last season ended for the Blue Jays, was now interested in the chance to join a potential winner. "Last year those last six weeks were very tough," Oliver said. "When you sit there for the last two months and we were kind of out of it ... it was like we win today, lose two, win today, lose two. It was tough. "When they made those moves ... it made that team into a really really good chance for us to get to the playoffs. Obviously at this point in my career I want to be a part of that." Oliver had a 3-4 mark last season in 62 appearances. In 716 career games, including 229 starts, he has posted a 115-94 record and a 4.53 ERA. The Blue Jays have dramatically reshaped their roster after a disappointing 73-89 campaign last year. The pitching staff is much stronger with the addition of starters Johnson, Buehrle and National League Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey. With the Blue Jays starting rotation getting an overhaul, Anthopoulos was pleased to bring a veteran presence back to the bullpen. "Its huge, maybe huge isnt a strong enough word," he said. "I mean youre talking about a left-hander that keeps putting up 2 ERAs and gets better every single year. "It blows my mind what he continues to do. When you watch him youre more amazed. Just strikes, no fear, poise." Oliver, a Kansas City native, has played for nine teams over his career, including the Texas Rangers on three separate occasions. Beats By Dre Pas Cher . The British team raised its total of golds to 22 on Tuesday and trails only superpowers China and the United States in the medal table. Beats By Dre France . Watch live coverage on TSN right now. The 1-5 Bombers are looking to new quarterback Joey Elliott to secure just their second win of the season. "The message has been sent, we have to pick it up," said veteran Winnipeg offensive lineman Glenn January. http://www.beatsbydremagasin.fr/ . He scored his 160th career goal and added a 515th assist to pass Stan Smyl and move into third place on Vancouvers all-time scoring list with 675 points. Daniel Sedin, Dale Weise, Chris Higgins and Ryan Kesler also scored for Vancouver on a night when the puck bounced the Canucks way. Beats By Dre . The fifth-seeded Mayer took advantage of seven aces to get past Bagnis in just over an hour at The Fairmont Acapulco Princess. Mayer had four break opportunities and converted on three of them.Carson, CA (Sports Network) - Chivas USA signed Colombian forward Jose Erick Correa on Tuesday. The 19 year-old Correa most recently played for Boyaca Chico FC of Colombias First Division, where he was the second-leading goal scorer. "Hes a great young talent that will come and help us right away, and also learn a lot from our experienced forwards like Juan Pablo Angel and Alejandro MMoreno," Chivas USA general manager Jose Domene said.dddddddddddd "He is a player that is very interesting because hes big, strong and fast. Hes young so we look forward to having him around for many years." Correa was recently called up to the Colombian national team. Per Major League Soccer and Chivas USA policy, details of the contract were not revealed. ' ' ' work) - Chivas USA signed Colombian forward Jose Erick Correa on Tuesday. The 19 year-old Correa most recently played for Boyaca Chico FC of Colombias First Division, where he was the second-leading goal scorer. "Hes a great young talent that will come and help us right away, and also learn a lot from our experienced forwards like Juan Pablo Angel and Alejandro MMoreno," Chivas USA general manager Jose Domene said.dddddddddddd "He is a player that is very interesting because hes big, strong and fast. Hes young so we look forward to having him around for many years." Correa was recently called up to the Colombian national team. Per Major League Soccer and Chivas USA policy, details of the contract were not revealed. ' ' '
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