A day after signing shortstop John McDonald, the Toronto Blue Jays have seemingly found their 2010 starter.
The Jays announced the signing of Alex Gonzalez to a one-year contract worth $2.75 million on Thursday. The contract also includes a club option for $2.5 million in 2011.
"There's no doubt we'd like to have a long-term solution with respect to someone who could be here for multiple years at a time and be part of the next core of players, but we're very excited to have Alex and we like the flexibility the contract gives us," GM Alex Anthopoulos said on a conference call.
The signing of the 32-year old Gonzalez likely spells the end of Marco Scutaro's time in Toronto.
Gonzalez, who split time last season with the Cincinnati Reds and Boston Red Sox, hit .238 with eight home runs in
112 games played.
Gonzalez, who missed the entire 2008 season recovering from a knee injury, hit .272 with 16 home runs in 2007.
Gonzalez, who was an All-Star in 1999, and a World Series winner in 2003, is a career .247 hitter with 114 home runs and 521 RBI in 1,229 games.
