The Toronto Blue Jays signed free-agent slugger Steve Pearce to a two-year, $12.5 million deal, the team announced Monday.
Pearce batted .288 with 13 home runs and 35 RBIs in 302 plate appearances last season with Tampa Bay and Baltimore. Pearce, 33, was traded to the Orioles in August for a minor leaguer. It was his second stint with Baltimore, having also played there from 2012 to '15 before being released.
He had forearm surgery in September.
Pearce's best season came in 2014 with the Orioles when he hit .293 with 21 homers and 49 RBIs. Pearce has played all over the diamond, spending time at first base, second base, third base and both corner outfield positions.
The Blue Jays had holes to fill since both Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion are free agents. Encarnacion, an All-Star who led the AL in RBIs with 127 last season, is drawing the most interest around the league, and sources tell ESPN that the Pearce deal likely shuts the door on Encarnacion returning.
Toronto had already signed designated hitter Kendrys Morales this offseason.
ESPN's Buster Olney contributed to this report.