Blue Jays sign Akex Rios, Reed Johnson and Scott Downs

[Halladay_is_God]

http://tsn.ca/mlb/news_story/?ID=194646&hubname=

Canadian Press

2/2/2007 6:39:05 PM

TORONTO (CP) - J.P. Ricciardi's excellent record with salary arbitration remains intact.

The Toronto Blue Jays GM kept the team from arbitration for the 11th straight off-season, agreeing to one-year contracts with left-fielder Reed Johnson, right-fielder Alex Rios and pitcher Scott Downs on Friday.

The Blue Jays haven't been to salary arbitration since 1997.

Johnson gets US$3,075,000, Rios $2,535,000 and Downs $1,025,000.

Johnson, who hit .319 last year with 12 homers and 49 RBIs, can make an additional $225,000 in performance bonuses: $37,500 each for 575, 600, 615, 625, 635 and 645 plate appearances. After earning $1,425,000 last year, he had asked for $3.6 million and had been offered $2.5 million.

Rios was a first-time all-star last year, hitting .302 with 17 homers and 82 RBIs. He missed more than 30 games because of a staph infection in his leg.

A number of teams expressed interest in trading for Rios this off-season after Ricciardi sought to acquire a starting pitcher.

Ricciardi ended up rounding out the rotation with free agent starters Toma Ohka, John Thomson and Victor Zambrano.

Rios was eligible for arbitration for the first time after making $354,000 last year. He had asked for $3.1 million and had been offered $2 million.

Downs went 6-2 with a 4.09 ERA in 59 games last year, earning $705,000. He had asked for $1.2 million and had been offered $925,000.

In addition to his base salary, he could earn $25,000 in performance bonuses: $10,000 for 70 games and $15,000 for 75 games.

[brewersfan19]

Nice signings! Opening up that wallet again in Toronto! Keep the pressure on Boston and New York. If you can't beat, spend with them I guess!

[Dr.Funk]

A little much more Reed Johnson IMO. But all in all a good job by JP.