Blue Jays to decide on Dickey catcher after World Baseball Classic

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher R.A. Dickey in Dunedin, Fla., on Monday, Feb. 25, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

DUNEDIN, Fla. - The Toronto Blue Jays will decide who catches knuckleballer R.A. Dickey after the World Baseball Classic, says manager John Gibbons.

Incumbent J.P. Arencibia has insisted he wants to handle Dickey this season although the Jays have three catchers in camp — Henry Blanco, Josh Thole and Mike Nickeas — who have experience in working with Dickey.

Arencibia, who worked out with Dickey over the winter in their off-season home of Nashville, caught Dickey in his spring debut Monday.

Both are eventually headed to the U.S. team at the World Baseball Classic.

"When they come back, we've got to make a decision one way or another," Gibbons said Tuesday. "If he's the guy or we're going to go with one of the other guys.

"Because that individual, whoever it is, he's got to work him the rest of the way."

Gibbons said he thought Arencibia had done a good job Monday. A Baltimore run scored on a wild pitch but Gibbons said he didn't think anyone could have got to the ball.

"You don't want to let this linger," he said. "We've got to make a decision but we can't do it until they get back (from the WBC) anyway."

If it isn't Arencibia, he will see action with the other Jays' pitchers.

Dickey is slated to pitch April 2, opening day against Cleveland. Gibbons said whoever is selected to be his catcher will start that day too.

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