With Jarrod Saltalamacchia, testing the free agent market, the Boston Red Sox have found a replacement behind the plate signing free agent catcher A.J. Pierzynski to a one-year contract. According to Buster Olney of ESPN it is worth $8.25 million. As with most free agent deals, it is pending a physical. He will team with David Ross behind the Red Sox plate next season.
The soon to be 37-year-old Pierzynski is a veteran catcher who is still performing at a high level. Sure he isn’t the man who was selected to the 2002 and 2006 All-Star Games, but he is still useful. Last season he played in 134 games for the Texas Rangers hitting .272/.297/.425 with 17 home runs and 70 RBIs. He also threw out 33% of would be base-stealers, a career high.
A 16-year veteran, Pierzynski has played for the Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox, and San Francisco Giants, in addition to his one year with the Rangers. He has always been an excellent offensive catcher with a career .283/.321/.428 line with 172 home runs and 800 RBI. Even better for the Red Sox, Pierzynski is a career .322 hitter at Fenway Park, but has never homered there.
Pierzynski was a member of the 2005 World Series Champions while with the White Sox and won a Silver Slugger award in 2012.
The short-term deal works well for the Red Sox who continue to develop high end prospects Blake Swihart and Christian Vazquez, at the catcher position.
As for Jarrod Saltalamacchia, the Twins, Marlins and White Sox are among teams still looking for a catcher.
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Main photo credit: Dallas Morning News
