TORONTO -- First baseman Justin Smoak's $8 million option for 2019 has been exercised by the Toronto Blue Jays, who declined a $5.5 million option on infielder Yangervis Solarte.
Smoak agreed in July 2016 to a deal that paid him $4,125,000 in each of the next two seasons. He would have received a $250,000 buyout if the option had been declined and would have become a free agent.
The 31-year-old hit .242 with 25 homers and 77 RBI this year, down from .270 with 38 homers and 90 RBI in 2017.
Solarte, also 31, receives a $750,000 buyout and becomes eligible for arbitration. He hit .226 with 17 homers and 54 RBI this year, a decrease from his .255 average with 18 homers and 64 RBI in 2017.