Outfielder Matt Stairs has been in hockey mode for several weeks, preparing for his second season as assistant coach with the boys' team at John Bapst Memorial High School in Bangor, Maine.

But the Fredericton native managed to squeeze in some baseball talk on Tuesday night, taking all of 10 minutes to accept a one-year free-agent contract from the Toronto Blue Jays.

Matt Stairs, who spent part of 2006 with the Tigers, is expected to be on the Blue Jays' roster when they open next season in Detroit.
(Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

"My mind's been going 100 miles an hour thinking about hockey, but every time I start smiling it’s because I know I'm going to Toronto," Stairs told CBC Sports Online's Doug Harrison.

The official announcement of Stairs's signing should be made this week. It was delayed in part because the Blue Jays wanted to keep a spot on the 40-man roster open for Thursday's Rule 5 draft.

Toronto becomes Stairs's 10th team in 15 seasons and second Canadian organization. In 1992, the 38-year-old broke into the majors and played 13 games with the Montreal Expos.

"I started my career in Montreal and towards the end I'm playing in Toronto. I’m excited. I wish I could start tomorrow," said Stairs.

Stairs nearly signed with Toronto before the 2003 season but instead joined the Pittsburgh Pirates, who guaranteed him more playing time.

"Back then I was younger and was told [by Blue Jays general manager J. P. Ricciardi] that I might play a maximum of 60 games. At that time I wanted 120 to 130 games.

"Everything happens for a reason. It worked out for the best and has this time as well."

Stairs is expected to be Toronto’s fourth outfielder and spell designated hitter Frank Thomas if he requires a day off.

"I know my value off the bench," Stairs, who has averaged 392 at-bats over the past three seasons, told the Toronto Sun. "I've never complained about playing time."

On Sept. 15, the Detroit Tigers claimed Stairs off waivers from Texas, where he played 26 games with the Rangers after opening the 2006 season with Kansas City.

Stairs was Detroit's DH for the final 14-regular season games and helped them capture the American League wild card. However, he wasn't eligible for the playoffs since he was acquired two weeks after the deadline for submitting post-season rosters.

"I enjoyed it," Stairs told Sports Online of competing for his first AL pennant since 2000 with Oakland. "Being 38 years old, I felt like I was 22 and 23 again. It was a nice way to end the season."

Stairs batted .247 overall in 117 games with 13 home runs and 51 runs batted in.

But the only numbers that matter to Blue Jays fans are his .358 average, nine homers and 23 RBIs in 106 career at-bats at the Rogers Centre.

Stairs said it is a ballpark where he feels comfortable and sees the ball well. But that wasn't always the case.

"When I first started playing in Toronto [with Boston and Oakland] in the mid-1990s everyone [family, friends] was watching and I wanted to do well. I put too much pressure on myself," Stairs said.

"It's going to be interesting to play there for 81 games. I just hope it's not the kiss of death."

Ricciardi, who helped sign Stairs as a free agent in Oakland in 1995, is willing to take the chance.

Stairs joins newcomers Royce Clayton and Thomas and will be reunited with Blue Jays bench coach Ernie Whitt, who managed Canada in March at the inaugural World Baseball Classic.

"He took it easy on me as the old guy [on the team]," said Stairs, laughing. "I think I did half the conditioning drills, so we got off on the right foot."

Whitt and millions of fans will be hoping Stairs feels as comfortable when Toronto opens the 2007 season in Detroit on April 2.