The Blue Jays have agreed to a two-year, $2.5MM deal with catcher Josh Thole, announced the team. The 26-year-old backstop had been arbitration eligible for the first of four times, as a Super Two player. The Hendricks Sports client will earn $1.25MM in 2013 and the same in 2014, while the Jays hold a club option for 2015. Thole would be arbitration eligible in 2016 before reaching free agency. With this contract, essentially, Thole agreed to not receive a raise in his second arbitration year in exchange for the team guaranteeing that salary early.

Thole, 26, joined Toronto as part of December's R.A. Dickey trade with the Mets.