Catcher Jeff Mathis agrees to US$3 million, 2-year contract with Blue Jays

TORONTO – Catcher Jeff Mathis has agreed to a US$3 million, two-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays for 2013 for 2014.

Mathis will earn $1.5 million in each of the next two seasons. The deal includes a $1.5 million team option for 2015. There is no buyout.

Traded to Toronto from the Los Angeles Angels in December, Mathis is batting .215 with nine doubles, six homers and 19 RBIs in 46 games. He has one error in 305 chances.

An eight-year veteran, Mathis is a career .196 hitter with 32 homers and 158 RBIs.

Also Tuesday, Toronto agreed to a minor league contract with catcher Yorvit Torrealba and assigned him to double-A New Hampshire. General manager Alex Anthopoulos said Torrealba will play four games at double-A starting Thursday, then join the Blue Jays in Detroit next Tuesday.

Torrealba was released by Texas on Aug. 8 after batting .236 with three home runs and 12 RBIs in 49 games. The 12-year veteran has also played for San Francisco, Seattle, Colorado and San Diego.

Toronto was left thin at catcher when J.P. Arencibia fractured his right hand in a July 25 game against Oakland. Arencibia, who will have his cast removed and the injury re-examined tomorrow, is not expected back before September.