Blue Jays sign trio to one-year deals

Toronto Blue Jays' pitcher Carlos Villanueva throws against the New York Yankees during the first inning of their MLB American League baseball game in Toronto July 17, 2011.

(Reuters) - The Toronto Blue Jays avoided arbitration with second baseman Kelly Johnson, right-hander Carlos Villanueva and outfielder Ben Francisco by signing all three to one-year deals, the team said on Tuesday.

Johnson, 29, who was acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks last August and has a .260 career batting average in six Major League Baseball (MLB) seasons, led the way with a $6.37 million contract for 2012.

Villanueva, 28, agreed to a $2.27 million deal after posting a 6-4 record with a 4.04 earned run average in 33 games, including 13 starts, last season with Toronto.

The Dominican Republic native has a career 26-28 record in 263 games, including 40 starts, over six MLB seasons with Milwaukee and Toronto.

Francisco, 30, picked up by Toronto in a December trade with Philadelphia, will earn $1.53 million. He hit .244 with six home runs and 34 runs batted in for the Phillies last season.

The Blue Jays have two arbitration eligible players remaining unsigned - pitchers Casey Janssen and Brandon Morrow.

(Reporting By Gene Cherry in Salvo North Carolina; Editing by Frank Pingue)