Kotchman among Blue Jays' signings

TORONTO -- The Blue Jays continued to add to their organizational depth Monday morning by signing infielders Jiovanni Mier, David Adams and Casey Kotchman to Minor League contracts.

All three received invitations to Spring Training as part of their deals. They will be in camp when the first full-squad workout is scheduled for Feb. 26 with pitchers and catchers reporting Feb. 22.

Interim general manager Tony LaCava recently said one of his top priorities this offseason was improving the depth in the upper levels of the Minor League system. A series of major trades over the past few years has taken its toll on the system, and the Blue Jays need some reliable options at Triple-A Buffalo.

Kotchman is the most recognizable name of the group as a 10-year big league veteran. He hasn't appeared in the Major Leagues since 2013 and is a career .260 hitter with 71 home runs and 388 RBIs in 939 games. He'll provide depth at first base behind Edwin Encarnacion, Chris Colabello and Justin Smoak.

Adams spent most of this year at Double-A Jacksonville in the Marlins' system. The 28-year-old second baseman hit .294 with a .399 OBP and 21 extra-base hits in 116 games. He's not likely to win a job on the big league team, but provides another option for a team that recently learned it would not have Devon Travis healthy for the start of the year.

Mier has yet to make his Major League debut and spent the 2015 season at Double-A Corpus Christi in the Astros' system. The 25-year-old was a first-round pick in the 2009 MLB Draft and was once rated among the Astros' top prospects. In 109 games this season, he hit .258 with a .722 OPS while primarily playing shortstop.