Blue Jays add versatile infielder Steve Pearce

The Blue Jays have given Justin Smoak some competition at first base come spring training, with free agent Edwin Encarnacion not expected to return.

Steve Pearce, who spent much of the past four seasons with Baltimore, agreed Monday to a two-year contract with Toronto worth $12.5 million US.

The 33-year-old appeared in 85 games last season with Tampa Bay and the Orioles, posting a .288 batting average in 264 at-bats, .374 on-base percentage, 13 home runs and 35 runs batted in.

Baltimore re-acquired Pearce on Aug. 1 and he hit .217 down the stretch with three home runs and six RBIs in 60 at-bats.

He played a career-high 102 games (338 at-bats) in 2014 with the Orioles, hitting .293 with a .373 OBP, 21 homers, 49 RBIs and five stolen bases.

Pearce was claimed on waivers by the Blue Jays in April of that season after Baltimore designated him for assignment but turned Toronto down.

In his career, the right-handed hitting Pearce has torched left-handed pitching and hit .309 last season with a .411 OBP in 81 at-bats against lefties.

He will be of use to Blue Jays manager John Gibbons at several positions, having appeared in 40 games at first base in 2016, 15 at second, two at third and 12 in the outfield.

Here is the five-foot-11, 200-pounder's offensive production last season against the American League East:

- vs. Toronto: 7-for-21 (.333, .462 OBP, 1.129 on-base-plus slugging percentage)

- vs. New York Yankees: 13-for-39 (.333, .447 OBP, 1.037 OPS, 3 HR, 6 RBIs, 7 walks)

- vs. Boston: 3-for-11 (.273, .467 OBP)

- vs. Baltimore: 3-for-8 (.,375, 2 RBIs, .444 OBP, .819 OPS)

- vs. Tampa Bay: 2-for-8 (two walks, .400 OBP)

Monday's signing effectively ends Encarnacion's time in Toronto.

The 33-year-old, who rejected a four-year, $80-million offer from the Jays earlier this off-season, hit .263 with 42 homers and 127 RBIs this past season, the last of a three-year, $27-million deal he signed before the 2013 campaign.

It's believed the Texas Rangers, who are seeking right-handed power, could make a play for Encarnacion, who is second only to Baltimore's Chris Davis (197) in home runs over the past five seasons with 193.