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The Toronto Blue Jays and free agent infielder Maicer Izturis have agreed to a three-year, $10 million contract. The deal will also include a club option for a fourth season. Izturis has signed the biggest free agent contract that Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos.
Izturis is coming off a season with the Los Angeles Angels where he played in 100 games, batted .256/.320/.315 with 11 doubles and 20 RBI. Not outstanding numbers. Izturis played in eight seasons with the Angels and never had an overwhelmingly productive season with the team. He is going to be a good situational player for the Blue Jays.
Izturis will more than likely back up shortstop Yunel Escobar even though Escobar got into some murky water with the team towards the end of the season when he wrote a homophobic slur in Spanish on his eye black.
Izturis has the ability to play all over the infield. In his career, he has started 252 games at third base, 221 games at second base and 162 games at shorstop. Izturis has also been used as an outfielder briefly at times.
There will be some competition on the bench for Izturis this season as well. The Blue Jays have Mike McCoy and Mark Sobolewski in the farm system that are coming up fast through the ranks. The team will also look at starting Adeiny Hechavarria at second base, like the team did at the end of the 2012 season.
If any of the young players fail in keeping their job, Izturis will have a chance to start in 2013.
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