Justin Smoak

Justin Smoak's $8M option exercised by Blue Jays

Published Oct. 31, 2018 7:44 p.m. ET

TORONTO (AP) — First baseman Justin Smoak's $8 million option for 2019 has been exercised by the Toronto Blue Jays, who declined a $5.5 million option on infielder Yangervis Solarte.

Smoak agreed in July 2016 to a deal that paid him $4,125,000 in each of the next two seasons. He would have received a $250,000 buyout if the option had been declined and would have become a free agent.

The 31-year-old hit .242 with 25 homers and 77 RBIs this year, down from .270 with 38 homers and 90 RBIs in 2017.

Solarte, also 31, receives a $750,000 buyout and becomes eligible for arbitration. He hit .226 with 17 homers and 54 RBIs this year, a decrease from his .255 average with 18 homers and 64 RBIs in 2017.

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Justin Smoak

Toronto Blue Jays

Major League Baseball