Jays, Rasmus avoid arbitration

The Toronto Blue Jays avoided a potential arbitration case with center fielder Colby Rasmus, agreeing to a $4.7 million salary for 2013.

Rasmus, 26, earned $2.7 million last season, when he hit .223 with a poor .289 on-base percentage, a .400 slugging percentage, 23 homers and 75 RBI in 151 games. His on-base percentage has slipped each year since his rookie season for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2009.

The Blue Jays still have three player remaining in the arbitration process, left-hander J.A. Happ, utility man Emilio Bonifacio and catcher Josh Thole.

Toronto also announced Tuesday that it signed Canadian outfielder Adam Loewen to a minor league contract.

Earlier in his career, Loewen was a pitcher, and he went a combined 8-8 with a 5.38 ERA for the Baltimore Orioles from 2006-08. He subsequently moved to the outfield, and he played in 14 games for the Blue Jays in 2011, hitting .188 with one homer and four RBI.

Loewen, 28, spent last season in the New York Mets' farm system, hitting .227 with eight homers and 26 RBI in 59 games for Triple-A Buffalo.