--In a further effort to bolster their pitching depth, the Blue Jays signed free-agent Japanese LHP Ken Takahashi to a minor league contract. Takahashi, who turns 40 in April, was a starter and a reliever in Japan. In 2008, he made 20 starts (115 2/3 innings), going 8-5 with a 3.50 ERA.

--LHP Brian Tallet and the Blue Jays agreed to a one-year contract worth $1,015,000 and avoided salary arbitration. Tallet went 1-2 with a 2.88 ERA in a career-high 51 games last season, his third with Toronto. After making $640,000 last year, Tallet asked for $1.3 million in arbitration and was offered $950,000. The Jays have not gone to an arbitration hearing since they did so with right-hander Bill Risley in 1997.

--The Blue Jays dipped into the waiver wire when they claimed RHP T.J. Beam from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Beam, 28, made 32 relief appearances last season, going 2-2 with a 4.48 ERA. Of interest is the fact that to make room for Beam on the 40-man roster, the Jays designated INF Russ Adams for assignment. Adams was the 14th overall pick in the 2002 June draft and the first player selected by general manager J.P. Ricciardi in his seven-year tenure with the club. The Blue Jays' everyday shortstop in 2005, Adams has struggled to find his form since losing his job with the big-league club.

BY THE NUMBERS: 1 -- The number of times LHP Jesse Carlson went 3-0 on a batter in his 69 appearances last season.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I'm excited. I was in camp last year, so I kind of know what I'm getting into. I know to just be quiet and listen. That's really the biggest thing, to go about my business and stay out of the way of these guys and listen to the veterans." -- C J.P. Arencibia, in a conversation with mlb.com, on what he expects during his second spring training with the Blue Jays.