The Toronto Blue Jays have added another Spring Training candidate to the competition for one of many available bullpen jobs for the 2011 season as the team has agreed to sign Chad Cordero to a minor-league contract.

The 28-year old Cordero was once one of the most effective closers in all of baseball, saving 47 games for the Washington Nationals in 2005, putting together an All-Star calibre season which also secured the right-hander Cy Young and MVP votes.

In seven Major League seasons the former first round draft selection has registered 128 career saves to go along with a record of 20-15 with an earned run average of 2.89 in 314 appearances.

If Chad Cordero can return to his 2005 form he could be a free-agent steal for the Blue Jays.

The 6’0, 220lbs Cordero is a graduate of Cal-State Fullerton, a school that also produced Blue Jays starter Ricky Romero.

Cordero has not been a reliable Major League arm since undergoing shoulder surgery in 2008, appearing in only nine MLB games total.

He spent the majority of last season with the New York Mets and Seattle Mariners Triple A affiliates posting decent statistics. In 35.2 innings pitched he earned a record of 1-2 with an ERA of 3.03 in 34 appearances, recording six saves while allowing 34 hits, walking nine and striking out 36.

Cordero did make nine appearances for the Mariners in 2010, pitching to a poor stat line of 0-1 with an ERA of 6.52, allowing ten hits, walking five and striking out six.

The once dominating closer will compete with numerous pitchers for a bullpen job out of Spring Training such as new additions Carlos Villanueva & Octavio Dotel while Shawn Camp, Jason Frasor & Casey Janssen all return from the 2010 bullpen. Factor in arms such as minor-league signing Brian Stokes, lefties Rommie Lewis & Jesse Carlson and young arms such as David Purcey, Robert Ray & Josh Roenicke and the dog fight for a bullpen spot in Toronto for the 2011 season will be a rough one.