Anthony Fenech

Detroit Free Press

Andy Dirks is a free agent.

Ezequiel Carrera is not.

These recent developments courtesy of the Toronto Blue Jays, who swapped the former Tigers outfielders in transactions the past two days.

On Tuesday night, the Blue Jays non-tendered Dirks, who was arbitration-eligible, making him free to sign with any team. On Wednesday morning, they signed Carrera to a minor-league deal.

Dirks was claimed off waivers from the Tigers on Oct. 31.

He missed the entire 2014 season with injuries. He underwent back surgery in the spring and a bum hamstring kept him sidelined in late summer.

His agent Will McGuffey told the Free Press in a text message on Wednesday that Dirks is healthy.

"That was not an issue at all," he said.

A lefty, Dirks is a lifetime .276 hitter. He hit .322 in 88 games in 2012 but could not replicate that with more playing time a year later, hitting .256 in 2013.

He made $1.6 million with the Tigers this past season and was projected by MLBTradeRumors.com to earn that same figure in 2015.

His release presents the possibility that the Tigers bring him back at a discounted price or on a minor-league deal.

Carrera, 27, hit .261 in 45 games with the Tigers in 2014.

He was designated for assignment in late November and elected free agency. He is a lifetime .253 hitter in parts of four big-league seasons with the Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia Phillies and Tigers.

Right-handed reliever Jim Johnson also landed a job on Wednesday, when the Atlanta Braves signed him to a one-year deal.

Johnson, 31, joined the Tigers on a minor-league deal late in a lousy season.

He compiled a 7.09 ERA between Oakland and Detroit in 2014. Prior to that, he saved 50-plus games in back-to-back seasons and held a 3.11 lifetime ERA.

Johnson will make $1.6 million next year.

Contact Anthony Fenech: afenech@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @anthonyfenech.