TORONTO - The Toronto Blue Jays locked up two of their young stars to long-term deals on Friday.
The team signed two-time all-star right-fielder Alex Rios to a US$64-million, six-year extension that contains an option for the 2015 season worth $13.5 million.
Second baseman Aaron Hill inked a $12-million, four-year contract that starts this season and contains options for 2012, 2013 and 2014. The options are not year-to-year -- the Blue Jays must extend him for either one season at $8 million, two at $16 million, or three at $24 million.
"We like to keep our homegrown guys here," said general manager J.P. Ricciardi. "It means a lot more to everybody in our system when we're able to draft our players, develop them and sign them and keep them here."
The announcements were made hours ahead of the Jays' home opener against the Boston Red Sox. Vernon Wells, Roy Halladay, Matt Stairs, Lyle Overbay and John McDonald were on hand at the news conference.
The 27-year-old Rios batted .297 and set career highs with 24 home runs and 85 RBIs last season, when he earned $2,535,000. He avoided salary arbitration Feb. 5 by agreeing to a $4,835,000, one-year contract.
"I still can't believe it, I never knew I was going to be making so much money," said Rios. "It's all good."
The 26-year-old Hill batted .291 last season with 17 homers and 78 RBIs.
Negotiations between the team and Rios have been ongoing since the winter but heated up in the spring.
A framework was completed last week, leaving only the final details to be worked out. The contract comes after the San Francisco Giants rejected a Rios-for-Tim Lincecum deal during the off-season.
The Hill deal came as a surprise as talks appeared to have been shelved until next off-season.
"It came down to a gut feeling," said Hill. "I respect the opinions of my teammates, my adviser, we talked for a long time and my wife and I just sat down and looked at what's really important."
