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Report: Blue Jays showing interest in Iannetta

Otto Greule Jr / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Toronto Blue Jays' search for a backup catcher may be ramping up, as the team is reportedly showing interest in free-agent backstop Chris Iannetta, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

Iannetta is represented by the same agency as former Blue Jays' slugger Jose Bautista, who is also a free agent. While reportedly meeting with those agents Tuesday to discuss Bautista possibly returning north of the border, the Blue Jays also apparently discussed signing the catcher, reports Rosenthal.

Finding a backup catcher to support Russell Martin is a major need for the Blue Jays this offseason. Martin is entering the third year of his five-year $82-million deal - he's owed $20 million each of the next three seasons - and his numbers declined in 2016 while playing 137 games and showing fatigue near the end of the season. Part of the problem was the Blue Jays didn't employ a competent backup for much of the season, instead only giving Martin a rest every four days when knuckleballer R.A. Dickey needed a personal catcher in Josh Thole, who was largely ineffective.

With Dickey having left the team in free agency, however, there's an opportunity to bring another catcher aboard to share some of the load - and Iannetta could fit that bill. The 33-year-old played just 94 games for the Seattle Mariners last year and hit .210/.303/.329 with seven homers and 83 strikeouts, but gave the Mariners solid defense, throwing out 31 percent of would-be base-stealers - better than Martin's 15 percent mark. All told, Iannetta contributed 7.5 defensive WAR last year, per Fangraphs.

Over 11 big-league seasons with the Mariners, Colorado Rockies, and Los Angeles Angels, Iannetta owns a .229/.346/.397 slash line with 107 homers, 139 doubles, and 796 strikeouts.

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