Blue Jays manager John Gibbons announced Tuesday that Casey Janssen will enter the season as the team's closer.

Casey Janssen underwent right shoulder surgery on November 16 to relieve discomfort in his AC joint.

While it would be better news if he didn't need the surgery at all, the Blue Jays expect him to be ready when spring training rolls around. Janssen was excellent in the closer role this past season, posting a 2.54 ERA and 67/11 K/BB ratio over 63 2/3 innings while going 22-for-25 in save chances.

Casey Janssen picked up his 14th straight save in Sunday's win over the Athletics.

Janssen hasn't blown a save since April 14 and is sitting on a 2.11 ERA to go with a sparkling 0.82 WHIP. Even if Sergio Santos (shoulder) wasn't out for the season, Janssen would have a long leash leash here.

Casey Janssen nailed down his fourth save of the season in Monday's win over the Orioles.

The Jays entered the ninth inning with a 6-0 lead, but Janssen had to come on to clean up Francisco Cordero's mess, getting a lineout and a groundout to end it. The right-hander has now retired all 11 batters he has faced when pitching in a save situation this season and should continue to be used in the ninth inning until Sergio Santos (shoulder) is ready.

Casey Janssen pitched a perfect ninth in a three-run game to earn a save Wednesday against the A's.

Janssen had about as easy an assignment as one could ask for in his first opportunity to serve as Toronto's closer. We're surprised the Jays picked him over Jason Frasor, but he is the better reliever of the two. He should be good for at least a few more saves before Sergio Santos returns.

Casey Janssen will serve as the Blue Jays' closer until Sergio Santos (shoulder) returns from the disabled list.

Francisco Cordero was removed from the role after blowing his third save of the season Tuesday night. Janssen has posted a 5.23 ERA in his first 10 appearances this season, but he also has an impressive 11/1 K/BB ratio over 10 1/3 innings and owns a 3.21 ERA since the start of the 2010 season. Santos should be back by the end of the month, but Janssen makes for a pretty nice short-term pickup in all fantasy formats.

Casey Janssen took the loss on Thursday after giving up two runs on two hits in two-thirds of an inning against the Orioles.

He entered a tied game in the seventh frame with runners on first and third, and proceeded to strike out J.J. Hardy and then coax Nick Markakis into an inning-ending ground out. But Adam Jones started the eighth with his sixth home run, which proved to be the difference. After a stellar 2011, Janssen has looked shaky this year, having yielded runs in four of his past five relief appearances.

The Red Sox touched Casey Janssen on Tuesday for two runs on three hits and a walk in an inning of work.

He managed to strike out the side, including David Ortiz with the tying run on deck. As a result, Francisco Cordero might have tightened his grip on earning save opportunities while closer Sergio Santos is out Thursday and Friday.

Blue Jays and RHP Casey Janssen avoided arbitration by agreeing to a two-year, $5.9 million contract with a $4 million option for 2014.

The new deal buys out his final year of arbitration and potentially his first two years of free agency. Janssen, 30, posted a 2.26 ERA and 53/14 K/BB ratio over 55 2/3 innings last season. Though he was likely a little fortunate with his strand and home run rates, he should remain a solid set-up man for Toronto.

According to Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca, the Blue Jays are nearing a two-year deal with Casey Janssen.

The contract will cover Janssen's final year of arbitration eligibility and his first year of free agency. It also carries an option for 2014. He posted a 2.26 ERA and 53/14 K/BB ratio across 55 2/3 innings last season and has developed into one of baseball's more reliable setup men. The 30-year-old right-hander should remain a valuable piece of the Toronto 'pen for the next couple years.

Casey Janssen requested $2.2 million and was offered $1.8 million from the Blue Jays when arbitration figures were exchanged Tuesday.

Janssen earned $1.095 million last season while posting a 2.26 ERA and 53/14 K/BB ratio over 55 2/3 innings. The Blue Jays have a team policy against splitting the difference, so the two sides will either agree to a multi-year deal or go to an arbitration hearing next month.

Casey Janssen returned to action on Saturday September 3.

Casey Janssen (lat muscle) is available out of the Blue Jays bullpen Saturday.

Janssen has been unable to pitch the last few days due to tightness in a lat muscle, but he threw a successful bullpen session Friday and is good to go. He'll boasts a shiny 1.99 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 43/13 K/BB ratio over 45 1/3 innings this season.

Casey Janssen (lat muscle) was scheduled to throw a bullpen session Friday.

Janssen left Tuesday's game with stiffness in his right latissimus dorsi muscle. If all goes well Friday, he could be available Saturday.

Casey Janssen was unable to pitch the 10th inning Tuesday night against the Orioles because of tightness in his lat muscles.

Janssen pitched a scoreless ninth inning, but was relieved by Brian Tallet in the 10th, who allowed the game-winning hit to Ryan Adams. We won't know more about his status until he is reevaluated Wednesday.

Blue Jays activated RHP Casey Janssen from the 60-day disabled list.

Janssen will return to the middle of the Blue Jays' bullpen on Tuesday night after missing over a month with a right forearm strain. He has a 2.93 ERA on the year.

Casey Janssen (forearm) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment this weekend at Single-A Dunedin.

Janssen has been on the 15-day disabled list since mid-June with a strained right forearm. He should only need two or three rehab appearances before gaining clearance to return to the Blue Jays' bullpen.

An MRI on Casey Janssen right forearm revealed no structural damage.

Janssen was placed on the disabled list last week with a strained right forearm. Now that a serious injury has been ruled out, there's a chance he could return as soon as he's eligible. The 29-year-old right-hander had a 2.93 ERA and 25/8 K/BB ratio over 27 2/3 innings prior to the injury.

The Blue Jays hope that Casey Janssen (forearm) will return from the disabled list when first eligible on July 1.

Janssen tried to pitch through a forearm strain but was ultimately shut down this week. "He took off from Toronto (for Florida) but the plane had to return because of mechanical issues so he missed his MRI," said Blue Jays manager John Farrell. "He has to go through an exam. At that point, Dr. Mirabello will prescribe, if need be, a shutdown period. We hope he'll be ready to go at the end of the 15 days."

Blue Jays placed RHP Casey Janssen on the 15-day disabled list with a right forearm strain.

Janssen suffered the injury two weeks ago and has been trying to pitch through it unsuccessfully. He's headed directly to Florida to begin rehabbing and will hope to make it back to the bigs in under three weeks.