Jays exercise option on Smoak

Charlie Montoyo has yet to manage a game for the Blue Jays and already he has a better infield to work with.

The Jays announced on Wednesday that they have exercised a team option to pick up the contract of first baseman Justin Smoak and to do the opposite of error-prone utility infielder, Yangervis Solarte.

Neither move is considered a surprise and in the case of Smoak, anyway, it means the Jays are guaranteed to have a rock at one of the corners of the infield as well as a leader in the team’s young clubhouse.

An American League all-star in 2017 largely because of his prowess at the plate, Smoak was a bargain the past two seasons in which he earned US$4.1 million in each. The club option for the third year is $8 million, but considering Smoak’s emergence as one of the steadiest players on the team (and at his position in the AL), it’s considered a bargain.

There was nowhere near such value in retaining Solarte, however.

Acquired in a trade from San Diego in January for a couple of minor leaguers the Jays would have had to shell out $5.5 million to keep Solarte, who increasingly became a defensive liability in his only year with the Jays.

Toronto had to pay a $750,000 buyout to terminate the deal with Solarte who hit .226 with 17 homers and 54 RBI in the 2018 season. A fan favourite early on for his dancing ways after a big hit, Solarte’s popularity waned in time with his usefulness.

Those offensive numbers were all down from his previous year’s totals, but it was his play on defence that was even less inspired. Add to the fact that the team has a glut of infield prospects and it was likely an easy decision for general manager Ross Atkins.

Likewise, keeping Smoak was a no-brainer. In many ways a career under-achiever until the past two seasons, the South Carolina native broke out in 2017 with a career season topped by his 38 home runs.

While not quite as prolific in 2018, Smoak had 25 homers (good for a share of the lead with Randal Grichuk) while leading with 77 RBIs. He was also a stalwart at first base, the underrated side of his game that was good enough to have Smoak nominated for the American League Gold Glove Award at his position.

Soft-spoken with a wry sense of humour, Smoak is expected to be a solid source of veteran leadership for Montoyo, who was named the Jays 13th manager last week.