DUNEDIN, Florida (Ticker) -- The Toronto Blue Jays today made sure Billy Koch would be their closer for at least the next three years, signing the 25-year-old righthander to a $3.5 million contract.

Koch, the fourth overall selection in the 1996 draft, set an American League rookie record with 31 saves in 1999. He made 56 appearances and was 0-5 with a 3.39 ERA, 57 strikeouts and 30 walks in 63 2/3 innings.

The 6-3, 205-pound Koch will receive a $250,000 signing bonus for the 2000 season and will be payed $2.35 million in the final year of the deal.

Koch made his major league debut on May 5 and tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings in a loss to Oakland Athletics. His best stretch of the season came from June 16-July 10, when he saved 10 games and allowed just two runs and seven hits over 13 innings.

Toronto also signed six other players to one-year contracts today, including outfielder Jose Cruz. The 24-year-old Cruz hit .241 with 14 homers and 45 RBI in 106 games for the Blue Jays last season.

Cruz was named MVP of the Caribbean World Series while playing in Puerto Rico this season.

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