The Red Sox may have finally taken care of that catcher spot for the 2013 season.
Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports report that Boston and free-agent catcher A.J. Pierzysnki have agreed to a contract.
The Red Sox were rumored to be interested in Pierzynski a few weeks ago, when free agency began and the market was thick with talent at the catcher position. Since then, many of MLB’s best backstops have been signed, with Boston not getting any closer to a deal with incumbent Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
Pierzynski has a rocky past that some thought could make him an ill fit for the Sox, but the 36-year-old does have a strong offensive history, which Boston has favored in finding a new everyday catcher. A career .283 hitter, he had 27 home runs with the White Sox in 2012 and 17 last season with the Rangers. He’s also proven to be one of the most durable catchers in the league, logging at least 128 starts in every season since 2002.
Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe said on Toucher and Rich on Tuesday morning that the deal is for one year.
