OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Oakland Athletics have agreed to one-year contracts with new catcher John Jaso and outfielder Seth Smith, avoiding salary arbitration with both players.
The team announced the deals Thursday, one day after Jaso was acquired from Seattle in a three-team trade that also included the Washington Nationals.
Jaso gets $1.8 million after hitting .276 with 10 homers and 50 RBIs in 108 games with the Mariners last season, when he earned $495,200. He had a .394 on-base percentage and batted .378 with runners in scoring position.
Smith’s deal is for $3,675,000. He batted .240 with 14 home runs and 52 RBIs for the AL West champions last year, when he made $2,415,000.
The A’s have two players left in arbitration: reliever Jerry Blevins and first baseman-outfielder Brandon Moss.
