C Pat Borders returns to Toronto

— -- TORONTO (Ticker) -- Catcher Pat Borders, who captured World Series Most Valuable Player honors for the Toronto Blue Jays in 1992, has returned to the team with whom he enjoyed his best seasons. The 12-year veteran was claimed off waivers today by the Blue Jays, who will add him to the roster when it expands to 40 players on Wednesday. Toronto also recalled righthander John Hudek from Triple-A Syracuse. The former Houston Astros closer will be playing for his fifth major league team in the last three years. Borders, 36, and Mike Matheny are expected to back up Darrin Fletcher as the Blue Jays make their run at the American League wild card berth. Toronto started tonight four games behind Boston. Borders became available earlier this month when he was designated for assignment by the Cleveland Indians. Despite the absence of injured All-Star Sandy Alomar, Borders saw limited playing time for the AL Central Division leaders. Borders spent much of his third season with the Indians' organization in the minors and appeared in only six games for Cleveland, batting .300 with no homers and three RBI. Regarded more for his defense and pitch-calling than his offense, Borders had just 20 at-bats with Cleveland after his contract was purchased from Triple-A Buffalo on June 27. Borders hit .238 with no homers and six RBI in 54 games, including 42 starts, last year for Cleveland. He has a .256 average with 66 homers and 324 RBI in 989 games, but is best known for his surprise contribution to the World Series champion Blue Jays in 1992. In the postseason that year, he batted .381 with two homers and six RBI in 12 games. Borders hit .450 in the World Series, helping the Blue Jays defeat the Atlanta Braves in six games. Hudek was designated for assignment by the Braves earlier this season after he was obtained from Cincinnati for Mark Wohlers on April 16. The 33-year-old Hudek, who had 29 saves in parts of four seasons with Houston, was 0-2 with a 7.64 ERA for Cincinnati and Atlanta this season.