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Blue Jays Exercise Thole Option, Decline Three Others

By charliewilmoth | November 1, 2014 at 1:20pm CDT

The Blue Jays have announced that they’ve exercised their option on catcher Josh Thole and declined their options on first baseman Justin Smoak and righties Brandon Morrow and Dustin McGowan. Smoak is still eligible for arbitration and will remain in the organization. Ben Nicholson-Smith of SportsNet.ca was the first to report on Smoak’s status (via Twitter), while Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish was first on McGowan.

Thole will make $1.75MM next season after hitting .248/.320/.278 in 150 plate appearances last season. He’ll continue to serve as the Jays’ catcher when knuckleballer R.A. Dickey is pitching.

The Jays will pay the newly acquired Smoak a $150K buyout rather than picking up his $3.65MM option. They’ll gamble that he’ll make less in arbitration. With Adam Lind headed to Milwaukee, the lefty now has a clearer path to a role with the Jays in 2015.

Morrow will receive a $1MM buyout on his $10MM option after missing much of the season due to a finger injury. He still throws hard, however, and his intriguing track record (including an excellent 9.4 K/9 in a career mostly spent as a starter) will make him a free agent to watch. McGowan, who posted a 4.17 ERA in 82 innings split between the rotation and the bullpen last year, will receive a $500K buyout rather than a $4MM option.

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Newsstand Toronto Blue Jays Transactions Brandon Morrow Dustin McGowan Josh Thole Justin Smoak

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Marlins Exercise Option On Jeff Mathis
View Comments (16)
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16 Comments

  1. Lee 3

    11 years ago

    They are just declining the Smoak option to pay him less through arbitration. If they don’t want him by spring training (end) they only have to pay him 1/6 of the contract.

    Reply
    • Jaysfan1994 2

      11 years ago

      Sounds like were stuck with Smoak anyways at the moment, doesn’t look like he’s going anywhere with Lind out.

      Reply
  2. docmilo5

    11 years ago

    Smoaked it! A term to be used in arbitration coined by Mariner fans in chat rooms talking about fly balls just short of the warning track.

    Reply
    • Jared306

      11 years ago

      Those might be off a wall or gone at Rogers Centre. Homeruns at Yankee stadium and in Boston with Peskie’s pole.

      Reply
      • docmilo5

        11 years ago

        Well, honestly I hope so. He’s a good kid. His glove is solid especially digging throws out of the dirt. Could be a 30 homer bat if someone can fix him.

        Reply
        • davbee

          11 years ago

          I agree, docmilo5. Smoak is a good guy with an underrated glove and serious power potential. For him to succeed it’s going to be all about learning to make contact.

          Reply
          • docmilo5

            11 years ago

            Watching him the last 3 years it seems when he keeps his bat quiet he makes good contact. When he starts bouncing it off his shoulder and over his head he starts hitting lazy fly balls.

            Reply
        • darrend

          11 years ago

          Thankfully the Jays have a pretty solid hitting coach in Kevin Seitzer. Oh, wait…

          Reply
  3. turnurvern-on

    11 years ago

    I think Adam Lind is heading to Milwaukee not Toronto…

    Reply
  4. UK Tiger

    11 years ago

    Morrow could well be a FA sleeper/reclamation project.

    Be interesting to see who is in on him and at how much.

    Reply
    • Jaysfan1994 2

      11 years ago

      I don’t know, I read an article comparing him to other guys who’ve had the type of injury luck he has and most of them were out of baseball within the age of 30-31. Guys who are injury prone in their 20’s rarely stay healthy as they age into their 30’s.

      Reply
      • UK Tiger

        11 years ago

        Theres no doubt the stats on those sort of guys isnt good, but then theres always the exception that proves the rule.

        Possible buy low high reward candidate?

        Reply
        • Jaysfan1994 2

          11 years ago

          Yeah, his real value is as a reliever. Something he doesn’t want to be unfortunately.

          Reply
  5. MLBHistory

    11 years ago

    Each post about Smoak has referred to him as a lefty. That is true. But he is also a righty.

    Reply
  6. Dylan B.

    11 years ago

    There’s a slight error in your post. Adam Lind is not “headed to Toronto,” but “headed to Milwaukee,” or “headed out of Toronto.”

    Reply
  7. Jonathan Rowe

    11 years ago

    What the heck Anthopolous? Give up on McGowan for an additional 3.5 million. Trade Lind to Milwaukee for a guy to replace McGowan who has worse stats, fastball averages 89, and will make more than 3.5 mil… Gave away Lind to downgrade our relief staff… Ridiculous.

    Reply

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