Toronto Blue Jays pick up options on Casey Janssen, Adam Lind and Mark DeRosa

Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Casey Janssen will be back with the club in 2014 according to Sportsnets’ Shi Davidi. Photo Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

According to Shi Davidi at Sportsnet the Toronto Blue Jays have picked up 2014 options for Casey Janssen, Adam Lind and Mark DeRosa. Davidi also shares that the team has declined Munenori Kawasaki‘s option but there’s a chance he could return on a minor-league deal.

To decision to pick up Janssen’s option was called a “no-brainer” by Davidi a few weeks ago and he mentions again it was “an easy one for the team.” Janssen has found his niche as a closer and has converted 56 of 61 save opportunities over the past two seasons. He doesn’t throw overly hard but impeccable command helps make Janssen one of baseball’s best closers. He will eligible for free agency after the 2014 season and turned 32 in September.

Lind had a resurrection season for the Blue Jays and in turn will be rewarded with a $7 million contract for next season. The Blue Jays were on the hook for a $2 million buyout this season from Lind but that number goes down to $1 million next year and his team option would be worth $7.5 million in 2015. He batted .288/.357/.497 this season but was hidden for much of the year against lefties. He received only 100 plate appearances versus LHP and had only a .208/.240/.333 triple slash but dominated RHP in 421 PA’s to the tune of .309/.388/.539. Lind will turn 31 midway through 2014 and even if he plays well will probably find himself in a similar situation next Fall with probably even less certainty if he’ll be back.

Although DeRosa’s $750,000 option was picked up by the Blue Jays it doesn’t necessarily mean that he’ll be back next season. DeRosa still needs to decide whether or not he’ll return to the club or retire at 38 years of age. He batted .267/.368/.443 against LHP in 2013 and is also seen as a valuable commodity in the clubhouse.

Kawasaki was a fan favourite and if he doesn’t return will be missed by Blue Jays faithful. His triple-slash of .229/.326/.308 was a big improvement over the .192/.257/.202 he posted in Seattle in 2012 but it wasn’t enough for his $1 million team option to be picked up by the club.