The Blue Jays designated Yamaguchi for assignment Thursday, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.

EDGE Analysis

Toronto lured Yamaguchi from Japan last offseason on a two-year, $6.35 million deal, hoping that he would contend for a spot at the back end of the rotation. A poor spring training effectively took him out of the running for a starting role, however, and he didn't find any success out of the bullpen once the season began last summer, posting an 8.06 ERA and 1.75 WHIP in 25.2 innings. Toronto will now cast him off the 40-man roster to make room for waiver pickup Joel Payamps, whom the Jays claimed from the Red Sox on Wednesday.