Blue Jays sign Justin Smoak to 2-year, $8.25 million extension

The Blue Jays have signed first baseman Justin Smoak to a 2-year, $8.25 million contract extension, according to a team announcement. The deal includes a $6 million club option for 2019 or a $250K buyout.

Smoak’s deal includes escalators based on plate appearances that could increase the value of his option from $6 million to $8 million, according to a baseball source. In total, the deal could be worth $16 million over three seasons.

Smoak, 29, was set to hit free agency for the first time this winter but will instead stay under Toronto’s control for the foreseeable future. Today’s deal extends the Jays’ control over the South Carolina native by three seasons.

Smoak has hit .234/.333/.402 with 9 home runs and 23 RBI in 82 games in his second season with Toronto after being claimed off waivers from the Mariners in October 2014. He is a veteran of seven major-league seasons with the Rangers (2010), Mariners (2010-14) and Blue Jays (2015-16), and owns a career .225/.310/.393 line with 101 career home runs.