Bautista, Encarnacion, Dickey options picked up by Blue Jays
Toronto declines option on Izturis
The Toronto Blue Jays exercised the options on outfielder Jose Bautista, right-hander R.A. Dickey and first baseman/DH Edwin Encarnacion on Tuesday.
The Jays declined the option on infielder Maicer Izturis, allowing him to become a free agent.
Bautista will earn $14 million US in 2016 while Dickey will make $12 million and Encarnacion will receive $10 million.
Bautista hit 40 homers and drove in 114 runs in helping Toronto reach the playoffs for the first time in 22 years. He delivered a dramatic three-run, seventh-inning homer to lead the Jays past Texas 6-3 in the fifth and deciding game of the American League division series.
Dickey, a veteran knuckleballer, went 11-11 this past season with a 3.91 earned-run average. He registered 126 strikeouts over 214 1/3 innings pitched.
Encarnacion hit .277 this season with 39 homers and 111 RBIs.