Blue Jays settle with Johnson, Rios, Downs
Last Updated: Friday, February 2, 2007 | 8:04 PM ET
CBC Sports
The Toronto Blue Jays agreed to one-year contracts with outfielders Reed Johnson and Alex Rios and pitcher Scott Downs on Friday, thus avoiding going to arbitration for the 10th straight off-season.
Johnson will earn $3,075,000 US for the 2007 season, Rios will be paid $2,535,000 and Downs will make $1,025,000.
Reed Johnson led Toronto last season with a .319 batting average.
(Keith Srakocic/Associated Press)
The Blue Jays haven't been to salary arbitration since 1997.
Johnson led Toronto last season with a .319 batting average, and belted 12 homers with 49 RBIs. Johnson also led all American League leadoff hitters with a .390 on-base percentage.
Rios was a first-time all-star last year, hitting .302 with 17 homers and 82 RBIs — all career highs. He did, however, miss a month of action due to a staph infection in his leg.
"He's a special player with special talent," Toronto outfielder Vernon Wells said about Rios in an interview with MLB.com.
"As long as he stays healthy and keeps his head in the right direction — we'll do a good job of making sure that happens — he's got all the potential in the world. It'll be fun watching him."
Downs posted a 6-2 record with a 4.09 earned-run average in 59 games last year.
Both Rios and Johnson were the centre of trade rumours during Toronto's search for pitching help this off-season, but Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi instead signed free agent pitchers Toma Ohka, John Thomson and Victor Zambrano to round out the rotation
"[Rios and Johnson] are going to be at the top of our lineup most likely and be the catalyst for this lineup," Wells said. "We needed those guys, and I'm very thankful we were able to keep them in the fold."
