Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos has found his backup backstop.
According to MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian on Twitter, the Blue Jays have signed former Yankees reserve Jose Molina to a one-year deal worth $400,000 plus performance-based incentives. Toronto also will hold a 2011 option to bring Molina back for $1.2 million.
The 34-year-old Molina appeared in 53 games for the Yankees last season, batting .217 with one home run in 138 at-bats. He is known more as a defensive specialist, offering excellent blocking skills and an above-average throwing arm.
Molina will serve as the primary backup for John Buck, whom the Blue Jays inked to a one-year, $2 million deal on Dec. 16. Buck also is a strong defensive catcher, but has showed more pop than Molina at the plate, posting a career-high .484 slugging percentage in 186 at-bats for the Kansas City Royals last season.
Toronto’s backup last season, Raul Chavez, is still in the organization after signing a minor league deal in December, but after batting .258 with a .631 OPS in limited action in 2009, Chavez is likely to spend most of 2010 with Triple-A Las Vegas.
The Jays’ starter from a year ago, Rod Barajas remains a free agent and is drawing interest from the New York Mets. Barajas hit 19 homers in 429 at-bats in 2009.
