Blue Jays sign McGowan, Litsch, Mathis to 1-year contracts

The Toronto Blue Jays have signed catcher Jeff Mathis and right-handed pitchers Jesse Litsch and Dustin McGowan to one-year contracts.   

All three players were eligible for arbitration. Mathis will earn $1.5 million US in 2012, Litsch will make $975,000, while McGowan gets $600,000.   

Mathis had three home runs, 22 RBIs and a .174 batting average in 93 games with the Los Angeles Angels last season.   

Litsch went 6-3 with a 4.44 ERA in 28 games with Toronto last season.   

McGowan, meanwhile, made his return to the lineup late in the season after undergoing two shoulder surgeries. He had not appeared in a game since 2008 and finished 0-2 with a 6.43 ERA in five games.   

The Blue Jays made a series of other moves Monday, claiming right-hander Jim Hoey off waivers from Minnesota, outrighting catcher Brian Jeroloman and right-hander Drew Carpenter to triple-A Las Vegas and designating right-hander Jesse Chavez for assignment.