Pirates sign backstop Rod Barajas

This is a little late in coming,but the Pittsburgh Pirates have signed veteran catcher Rod Barajas as a free agent to be the likely starter behind the plate for the 2012 season.
Barajas signed a one year deal worth four million with a club option at 3.5 million for 2013.
Barajas is almost an amalgam of the two lost catchers in Ryan Doumit and Chris Snyder.
Barajas is a superior defensive catcher to Doumit and a more consistent (I.E.one generally knows what to expect from Barajas and gets it) than Snyder.
Barajas is not going to hit for much of an average,but he is good for 15 homers a year,if you give 300 or so at bats to him.

All things equal,I'd rather have kept Ryan Doumit,but they were not equal,as Doumit cost more and would have been a two year commitment rather than just one.
When you consider the injury issues with Chris Snyder,I certainly favor bringing Barajas in over taking a chance on a veteran coming off a season ending injury
Rod Barajas is nothing to run into the street screaming over in joy or rage,but considering the lousy group of free agent catchers this season,Barajas was a good as Pittsburgh was going to get without surrendering a compensation draft pick for Ramon Hernandez,which the Pirates cannot afford to give away.
Give the Pirates credit for identifying the top catcher available in their cost range and locking him up quickly before other teams got involved with him and either losing him or watching his price drive higher.

Not really a ton else going about on the Pirate ship,but a few things of note.


Donald Veal signed a contract with the White Sox and was added to their 40 man roster in somewhat of a surprise to me.
Veal was a Rule V pick by the Pirates a few years back and saw a little action in Pittsburgh.
Veal underwent Tommy John surgery and spent last season in the minors.

Robbie Grossman was building his resume with an excellent Arizona Fall League after an strong year at High A Bradenton,but Grossman broke the hamate bone in his hand,ending his season.
Grossman is expected to be ready by opening day,but the injury has been known to show a decrease in power numbers in the year following the injury,so this is something to keep an eye on.

Will be back later with looks at the Browns loss and Seahawks win....

Photo Credit:Jon SooHoo-L.A. Dodgers