Octavio Dotel surrendered two runs and three hits in his inning Saturday versus the Tigers.

Dotel has given up five runs and seven hits through two innings. He's not going to overtake Frankie Francisco for the closer's role while pitching like this.

Octavio Dotel gave up three runs and four hits in his inning Wednesday against the Rays.

Dotel looked to be the Jays' closer when he was signed over the winter, but now Frankie Francisco is considered the favorite for the job. Dotel certainly didn't help himself with his first impression today.

Blue Jays signed RHP Octavio Dotel to a one-year, $3.5 million contract with a $3.75 million option for 2012.

The deal was agreed to in late December then finalized when Dotel passed his physical this week in Dunedin, Florida. The 37-year-old righty is going to serve as the Blue Jays' closer in 2011, at least at first. It seems very likely that he could struggle, given the pedestrian 4.08 ERA that he posted last year for the Pirates, Dodgers and Rockies. He's a risk.

According to Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes, the Blue Jays have signed Octavio Dotel to a one-year, $3.5 million contract with a club option for 2012.

Dotel will travel to Dunedin, Florida after the new year for a physical in order to make the deal official. The 37-year-old right-hander posted a 4.08 ERA and 75/32 K/BB ratio over 64 innings between the Pirates, Dodgers and Rockies this past season. He'll immediately become the favorite for saves in Toronto.

The Blue Jays and Octavio Dotel are close to agreement on a one-year, $3.5 million deal, reports Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com.

Dotel posted a 4.08 ERA and 75/32 K/BB ratio over 64 innings between the Pirates, Dodgers and Rockies this past season. He declined the Rockies' offer of arbitration earlier this month and is a Type B free agent. The 37-year-old would likely replace Kevin Gregg as Toronto's closer in 2011.

The Blue Jyas and Octavio Dotel are close to an agreement on a one-year deal, ESPN Deportes reports.

Dotel likely will be the replacement for Kevin Gregg in the closer's role. He's expected to get something close to the $3.2 million he earned with the Pirates, Dodgers and Rockies last season.

Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com reports that the Blue Jays, Pirates and Rays are interested in Octavio Dotel.

Dotel doesn't make a whole lot of sense in a return to Pittsburg, as they already have two quality late-game options, but the Rays and Blue Jays are in the process of reconstructing their respective bullpens. Dotel, 37, posted a 4.08 ERA and 75/32 K/BB ratio over 64 innings between the Pirates, Dodgers and Rockies this past season.

According to ESPN's Enrique Rojas, seven teams have interest in free agent reliever Octavio Dotel.

According to Rojas' report, those teams are Arizona, Toronto, Baltimore, Minnesota, Pittsburgh and the New York Yankees. Dotel declined the Rockies' offer of arbitration earlier this month and is a Type B free agent. The 37-year-old struck out 75 batters in 64 innings this past season, but he wound up with a pedestrian 4.08 ERA and 1.31 WHIP. While no longer closer material, Dotel would make for a solid setup man wherever he winds up.

Octavio Dotel declined the Rockies' offer of arbitration.

The Rockies probably made an under-the-table agreement with Dotel before offering him arbitration in late November. The 37-year-old struck out 75 batters in 64 innings this past season, but he wound up with a pedestrian 4.08 ERA and 1.31 WHIP. He will be on the hunt for a multi-year contract and will net the Rockies a supplemental round draft pick when he signs.

Jon Heyman of SI.com reports that Octavio Dotel will turn down the Rockies' offer of arbitration.

It was a minor surprise to see Dotel get offered arbitration last week, but now the Rockies will get a sandwich pick when he signs elsewhere. The 37-year-old right-hander posted a 4.08 ERA, 22 saves and 75/32 K/BB ratio over 64 innings between the Pirates, Dodgers and Rockies this past season and will likely seek a multi-year deal in free agency.

The Rockies have offered arbitration to Octavio Dotel.

Dotel is a Type B free agent after the Rockies declined his $4.5 million option for 2011. Dotel posted a 3.99 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 10.6 K/9 rate prior to coming over to the Rockies from the Dodgers in mid-September, but the veteran reliever posted a 6.23 ERA and 2.08 WHIP in seven appearances down the stretch. He'll be on the lookout for a two-year deal.

Rockies declined RHP Octavio Dotel's $4.5 million option for 2011.

The Rockies picked up Dotel in mid-September as they attempted to lock up a playoff spot. That spot was never clinched and the veteran reliever posted a 6.23 ERA and 2.08 WHIP in seven appearances down the stretch. He'll be on the lookout for a two-year deal this offseason.

Buster Olney of ESPN.com reports that the Rockies will decline the $4.5 million option on Octavio Dotel for next season.

Dotel was brought in for the Rockies final playoff push. They would have to hand over $4.5 million for his option to kick in so it's a no-brainer to let him go. Dotel hasn't pitched that well in his limited time with Colorado, posting a 6.23 ERA and 2.08 WHIP over seven appearances.

Rockies acquired RHP Octavio Dotel from the Dodgers in exchange for a player to be named later.

The player to be named won't be as good as James McDonald (or Andrew Lambo), but at least the Dodgers won't come away completely empty handed. Dotel has posted a 3.99 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 10.6 K/9 rate this season. He will not be eligible for the postseason roster.

Octavio Dotel walked three and threw three wild pitches in taking a loss to the Rockies on Wednesday.

Pitching the 10th inning in a tie game, Dotel was able to fan two of the first three hitters he faced. However, Melvin Mora worked a walk in between there, stole second, took third on a wild pitch and then scored on another wild pitch. The Rockies had a chance to really break it open when Troy Tulowitzki grounded out with runners on second and third to end the inning. Dotal has now walked seven in 5 2/3 innings for the Dodgers. Manager Joe Torre might stop trusting him in close games if he can't find his command.

The Mets have rejected the Pirates' offer of Octavio Dotel for pitching prospect Robert Carson, according to SI's Jon Heyman.

Carson is a 21-year-old left-hander that just recently reached Double-A. His results this year haven't been eye-popping, but the Mets are high on him. Dotel, who holds a 4.27 ERA and 10.8 K/9 rate this season, has reportedly drawn little interest from other teams to this point.

Buster Olney of ESPN.com hears that other teams are convinced that the Pirates will move Octavio Dotel and install Joel Hanrahan as their closer.

That the Pirates are shopping Dotel is no surprise, but many were under the impression that All-Star Evan Meek, not Hanrahan would get the call as closer. We don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves here, since Dotel needs to be traded first, but it wouldn't hurt to grab Hanrahan in deeper leagues as fail-safe.

Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com reports that the Mets have discussed Octavio Dotel of the Pirates and Scott Downs of the Blue Jays as possibilities to upgrade their bullpen.

According to the report, the Mets are "disenchanted" with most of the starting pitchers on the trade market and are currently more focused on relievers. Dotel, a former Mets' farmhand, has a 4.62 ERA and 20 saves in 38 appearances with the Pirates this season. Downs, a left-hander, has a 2.52 ERA and 1.02 WHIP over 39 1/3 innings with the Jays.

Octavio Dotel earned his 20th save of the year Tuesday against the Brewers by striking out three and allowing one hit in a scoreless ninth inning.

Dotel gave up 11 runs in a terrible April (10.61 ERA) but has allowed only eight runs total since May 1. The Pirates insisted earlier this month that he wasn't on the trading block, but it'll only take one reasonable offer to back them off that stance. That very real possibility hinders Dotel's fantasy potential for the remainder of the season, because any trade to a contender would likely relegate him to setup duty.

Pirates president Frank Coonelly said Wednesday that Octavio Dotel "is not on the trading block."

We don't buy it. Dotel is clearly one of the most logical names to go at the trade deadline. While Coonelly denied Dotel was on the block, he did say that the team's depth at the back of the bullpen would allow them to make a move if the right offer came along. "Having options in that area certainly puts us in a position to entertain offers if another club is willing to overpay for one of our players," said Coonelly. If Dotel is traded, the ninth inning could fall to either newly-minted All-Star Evan Meek or Joel Hanrahan.