Lind dealt from Toronto to Milwaukee for Estrada

NEW YORK (AP) — Adam Lind was traded from the Blue Jays to the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday for right-hander Marco Estrada, ending the first baseman’s nine-year run in Toronto.

The 31-year-old Lind hit .321 with six homers and 40 RBIs in 96 games last season, when he missed extensive time with injuries to his back and right foot. He has a .273 career average with 146 homers and 519 RBIs.

Just before the trade, the Blue Jays exercised his $7.5 million option, preventing him from becoming a free agent.

Estrada, also 31, was 7-6 with a 4.36 ERA in 18 starts and 21 relief appearances this year, when he made $3,365,500. He is 23-26 with a 4.23 ERA in seven seasons with Washington and Milwaukee.

Estrada is eligible for salary arbitration and can become a free agent after the 2015 World Series.

Toronto exercised a $6.7 million option on left-hander J.A. Happ and a $1.75 million option on catcher Josh Thole.

The Blue Jays declined options on right-handers Dustin McGowan, Brandon Morrow and Sergio Santos, allowing them to become eligible for free agency. McGowan gets a $500,000 buyout rather than a $4 million salary, Morrow receives a $1 million buyout rather than a $10 million salary, and Santos gets a $750,000 buyout instead of a $6 million salary.

Toronto also declined a $3.65 million option on first baseman Justin Smoak, who gets a $150,000 buyout and becomes eligible for salary arbitration.

The Blue Jays made a $15.3 million qualifying offer to free-agent outfielder Melky Cabrera, who has until Nov. 10 to accept.

Kansas City declined a $12.5 million option on designated hitter Billy Butler, who hopes to re-sign with the AL champions. He gets a $1 million buyout.

“There’s tough decisions on every club. There’s financial decisions that have to happen, especially on a small-market club like us, like Kansas City,” Butler said. “There’s no ill will toward the organization. You can’t take it personal in this business. I hope everything works out and I can return, but there’s always an option out there that might not happen.”

Colorado declined a $12 million option on left-hander Brett Anderson, who gets a $1.5 million buyout, and Miami exercised a $1.5 million option on reserve catcher Jeff Mathis.

Since the World Series, 135 players have become free agents, including Boston closer Koji Uehara, who accepted an $18 million, two-year deal to stay with the Red Sox. Six more players potentially are eligible to become free agents by Monday, also the deadline for teams to make qualifying offers to their eligible free agents.

Free agents may start negotiating contracts with all teams starting Tuesday.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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