Rod Barajas threw out 28.8 per cent of potential base stealers in 2008. (Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)Rod Barajas is staying in Toronto.
The Blue Jays on Friday exercised their contract option on the veteran catcher for the 2009 season, bringing him back for a second campaign with the team.
Signed as a free agent in January, Barajas appeared in 104 games for the Blue Jays in 2008, hitting .249 with a .294 on-base percentage, 11 home runs and 49 runs batted in.
Behind the plate, the 33-year-old Californian threw out 17 of 59 (28.8 per cent) potential base stealers.
Barajas made $700,000 US last season, with $300,000 of that coming in the form of a signing bonus. He's slated to make $2.5 million in 2009, but the Jays would have had to pay him a $500,000 buyout if they didn't pick up the option.
In 10 major-league seasons with Toronto, Philadelphia, Texas and Arizona, Barajas has hit .241 with 73 homers.
He nearly signed with the Jays in November 2006, but pulled out of the two-year, $5.25-million deal to sign with the Phillies before switching agents.
With files from the Associated Press
