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Toronto Blue Jays sign Justin Smoak to one-year deal - ESPN
TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays and free agent first baseman Justin Smoak have agreed to a one-year contract worth $1 million.
Smoak batted .202 with seven homers and 30 RBIs in 80 games with the Mariners last season. Toronto claimed him on waivers on Oct. 28 and declined his $3.65 million option on Nov. 1.
The deal comes Wednesday, a day after Toronto declined to offer Smoak a contract for 2015, making him a free agent.
By signing Smoak after declining to offer him a contract, the Blue Jays were able to avoid a rule that prevents teams from cutting a player's salary by more than 20 percent from the previous year. Smoak earned $2,637,500 last season, meaning he would have had to be offered a deal worth at least $2.11 million for 2015.
In five seasons with Texas and Seattle, Smoak has hit 74 home runs, including a career-high 20 in 2013.
Smoak batted .202 with seven homers and 30 RBIs in 80 games with the Mariners last season. Toronto claimed him on waivers on Oct. 28 and declined his $3.65 million option on Nov. 1.
The deal comes Wednesday, a day after Toronto declined to offer Smoak a contract for 2015, making him a free agent.
By signing Smoak after declining to offer him a contract, the Blue Jays were able to avoid a rule that prevents teams from cutting a player's salary by more than 20 percent from the previous year. Smoak earned $2,637,500 last season, meaning he would have had to be offered a deal worth at least $2.11 million for 2015.
In five seasons with Texas and Seattle, Smoak has hit 74 home runs, including a career-high 20 in 2013.