Toronto claims outfielder Tuiasosopo off waivers

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The Blue Jays claimed outfielder Matt Tuiasosopo off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks late Thursday afternoon.

Tuiasosopo appeared in 81 games last season with the Tigers, hitting .244 with seven home runs and 30 RBIs in 81 games. In parts of four big league seasons with the Mariners and Tigers, Tuiasosopo is a career .207 hitter with 12 home runs and 45 RBIs in 142 games.

The 27-year-old has the ability to play left field and also the corner-infield positions. With Detroit in 2013, Tuiasosopo appeared in 63 games in left field, 13 at first and one at third. He was originally taken in the third round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft.

To make room on the 40-man roster, the Blue Jays decided to release left-hander Luis Perez. The Dominican Republic native missed almost all of last season following Tommy John surgery, but he was very successful out of the bullpen in 2012.

Perez was a known favorite of then-manager John Farrell, and he posted a 3.43 ERA while tossing 43 innings until he got hurt during a game against the A's on July 8. Since then, there has been several setbacks from Tommy John surgery, and Perez was recently sent to Minor League camp.