TORONTO - The Toronto Blue Jays finalized their signing of catcher John Buck to a US$2-million, one-year contract on Wednesday, and also inked right-hander Lance Broadway to a minor-league deal.
Buck, 29, hit .247 with eight home runs and 36 RBIs in 59 games as a backup with the Kansas City Royals last season. He also missed about five weeks with a herniated disc in his back.
The right-handed hitter had a career-high 18 home runs in 2007 and is a leading candidate to replace departed free agent Rod Barajas as the team's starter behind the plate.
Broadway, 26, split the 2009 season between the Chicago White Sox and New York Mets organizations.
In 19 combined minor-league games, 17 of them starts, he was 5-9 with a 6.17 ERA. In 16 total big-league appearances, he was 0-1 with a 5.87 ERA.
