Jays bring reliever Frasor back to Toronto

The day Jason Frasor walked out of the Toronto Blue Jays’ locker-room, he believed he’d never be back — let alone so soon.

Frasor is returning to the team for which he’s played almost his entire career. Toronto acquired the reliever in a deal with Chicago on Sunday just five months after trading him to the White Sox.

The Jays gave up minor league pitchers Myles Jaye and Daniel Webb in Sunday’s trade.

“It felt like I was never coming back. (His July 27 trade) was an emotional day. I think it was the first time I’d cried since I gave up five runs in Atlanta a couple of years ago,” he said, laughing.

“It’s hard to believe I’m going back to Toronto, my wife is thrilled, it’s great. What a thrill, I don’t know else what it say, and I can’t wait to put on those new uniforms,” he added, during a conference call from his home in Tampa, Fla.

Frasor was 3-3 with a 3.60 ERA in 64 relief appearances with Chicago and Toronto last season.

The 34-year-old right-hander had been the longest serving member of the team and left as the franchise leader in games pitched when the Jays sent him to Chicago along with pitcher Zach Stewart for pitcher Edwin Jackson and infielder/outfielder Mark Teahen.

Frasor, a Chicago native, spent eight seasons — 2004-2011 — with the Blue Jays, posting a 24-28 record in 455 games with 36 saves and a 3.69 ERA.

Frasor, who enjoyed a relatively quiet New Year’s Eve of pizza and beer, said he was confused when he received a text message Sunday morning from Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos. He then received a message from a Jays media relations official asking if he’d be available for an interview.

It wasn’t until he received a call from his agent that learned of the trade.

“Crazy day today, but good news,” Frasor said from his home in Tampa, Fla.

Frasor said he enjoyed his brief stay in Chicago.

“I would have loved going back there, I was there for a couple of months and they were fantastic, great teammates, great people,” Frasor said. “It was a dream come true for my parents, to play for the hometown team and it was interesting for me to play for a different team after being in Toronto for eight years.”

Frasor joins former Chicago teammate and closer Sergio Santos, who the Jays acquired from the White Sox last month.

“I think you guys are really going to like him,” Frasor said of Santos. “I can’t believe Alex pulled him away from Chicago first of all, and for me to go back there and hopefully set him up again, it’s great.”

Frasor is happy he doesn’t have to go far for Jays training camp in Dunedin, Fla., a short drive from his home in Tampa, Fla.

“It’s six extra weeks of being at home for me and my family which is huge,” Frasor said.

“It makes it easier for me to prepare for spring training. Now I can go to the complex early, and there’ll be the catchers there, and I can utilize those guys and throw sliders and change-ups in the dirt, and get those guys ready for the real thing.”

The 20-year-old Jaye, meanwhile, made his professional debut with Advanced Rookie Bluefield of the Appalachian League last season, going 3-3 with a 3.00 ERA in nine starts and four relief appearances.

The 22-year-old Webb spent most of last season with class-A Lansing, where he was 4-5 with a 5.59 ERA. He also made one relief appearance with Bluefield.