Toronto Blue Jays batter Jose Bautista watches his run scoring single against the Los Angeles Angels during the fifth inning of their MLB American League baseball game in Toronto
Toronto Blue Jays batter Jose Bautista watches his run scoring single against the Los Angeles Angels during the fifth inning of their MLB American League baseball game in Toronto September 22, 2011. Reuters

(Reuters) - The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired closer Sergio Santos in a trade with the Chicago White Sox for promising right-handed pitcher Nestor Molina, the Toronto club announced on Tuesday.

The 28-year-old Santos appeared in 63 games last season for Chicago posting a 4-5 record with a 3.55 earned run average and 30 saves, striking out 92 batters in 63 and one-third innings.

The hard-throwing Santos returns to the Toronto organization he joined in December 2005 as a shortstop. The former 2002 first-round draft pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks was converted to pitching in 2009 after he was acquired by the White Sox.

Molina, 22, posted a combined 12-3 record and 2.21 ERA between Single-A Dunedin and AA-New Hampshire (AA) last season. The native Venezuelan was also signed as a position player prior to converting to pitching in 2008. In five minor league seasons he has compiled a 27-7 mark.

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