Music: {allcanada} Jays pick up Molina option

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

{allcanada} Jays pick up Molina option

The Karaoke Channel Online Member Community

TORONTO -- Unsettled behind the plate and uncertain how the off-season will play out, the Toronto Blue Jays gave themselves some insurance by picking up catcher Jose Molina's US$1.2-million option for 2011.

The 35-year-old batted .246 with four doubles, a career-high six home runs and 12 RBIs in 57 games this year, earning major kudos from the team's pitchers while serving as John Buck's backup.

With Buck headed for free agency after a breakout performance and top catching prospect J.P. Arencibia still a relatively untested commodity, bringing Molina back was what general manager Alex Anthopoulos described as "a no-brainer."

"We couldn't allow ourselves to be left naked at that position," Anthopoulos said during a conference call.

Anthopoulos spoke to Buck and his agent ahead of Wednesday's announcement to ensure that they wouldn't take the Molina decision the wrong way, and they were understanding of the move.

The sides plan to continue their dialogue in the coming weeks and Anthopoulos called the situation "very fluid right now because of John's free agency."

The Blue Jays would like to bring Buck back but Anthopoulos also acknowledged that after the 30-year-old set career highs with a .281 batting average, 20 homers and 66 RBIs he might get a better deal elsewhere.

At the same time the team also "wants to give (Arencibia) an opportunity." The 24-year-old batted .301 with 32 homers and 85 RBIs with triple-A Las Vegas and then proceeded to smack a pair of home runs and collect four hits in his big-league debut.

"J.P. at some point has learned everything he can in the minors and needs to be challenged in the majors," said Anthopoulos.

One possibility is that the Blue Jays carry two catchers plus Arencibia, having him share some time at first base and perhaps DH. But that would depend on what other moves Anthopoulos is able to pull off over the winter.

"That's definitely an avenue we can go down if it makes sense for us," he said.