Toronto Blue Jays exercise option on Jose Molina
The Toronto blue Jays exercised a $1.2 million club option on catcher Jose Molina on Wednesday 27 October. The option keeps Molina with the club through to the end of the 2011 season.
Molina was the club’s back-up catcher for the 2010 season, which was his first season with the club. Prior to joining the Blue Jays, Molina had spent time with both the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels.
Molina is known as a defensive catcher, as he is not a force with the bat, but is known to call a strong game behind the plate.
Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos said that exercising the option was a ‘no-brainer’ for the club. The reason the team was almost forced to bring back Molina is because starting catcher John Buck’s contract comes up at the end of the World Series
and the veteran had a break-out year with the Blue Jays. If the club did not sign Buck and did not exercise the option on Molina’s contract they would be without a Major League catcher.
Anthopoulos said that he has spoken with Bucks agent, explaining the reasons why they decided to exercise the option on Molina’s contract, and he understands.
The Jays also have a prized catching prospect in J.P. Arencibia, who they believe is ready for Major League duty. The youngster played his way to a .301 batting-average, 32 home runs and 85 RBIs with the franchise’s triple-A club in Las Vegas last season.
“J.P. at some point has learned everything he can in the minors and needs to be challenged in the majors,” said the Jays GM.
Last season Buck broke out earning a .281 batting average, 20 home runs and 66 RBIs. Meanwhile, Molina managed a .246 batting-average six home runs and 12 RBIs.
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