A.J. Pierzynski will join his fifth team in four years.
Pierzynski has agreed to a one-year contract with the Atlanta Braves, according to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman. The deal reportedly is pending a physical and likely won’t be official until early January.
Pierzynski, who turns 38 next week, is coming off a season in which he hit .251 with five homers, 37 RBIs and a .288 on-base percentage in 102 games split between the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals. The veteran catcher started the year with Boston but was designated for assignment amid the club’s struggles and reports that he wasn’t on the same page as some of his Red Sox teammates.
Pierzynski, a two-time All-Star, was productive with the Chicago White Sox in 2012 and the Texas Rangers in 2013 before struggling for much of 2014. The polarizing backstop has played for six teams throughout his 17-year career.
The Braves currently have Evan Gattis and Christian Bethancourt as catchers, though Gattis, who also can play the outfield, has been the subject of trade rumors this offseason.
Thumbnail photo via Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports Images
