In need of a left-handed bat and a catcher, the Texas Rangers reached agreement with free agent A.J. Pierzynski on a one-year deal, according to a high-ranking official who spoke to USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity because the signing is not yet official.
Pierzynksi, who will turn 36 on Dec. 30, is coming off a career-year with the Chicago White Sox. The veteran catcher hit a career-high 27 home runs, drove in 77 runs and had an .827 OPS.
Pierzynksi is expected to platoon with the right-handed hitting Geovany Soto at catcher and be used as a designated hitter.
The Rangers offense was lethal last season. They led the majors in runs (808) and hits (1,526) and were second in the American League in batting average (.273). But the club lost catcher/first baseman Mike Napoli and outfielder Josh Hamilton to free agency and infielder/DH Michael Young in a trade.
For some, the pairing of Pierzynski and Rangers manager Ron Washington could seem odd.
Pierzynski was left off the AL All-Star team, managed by Washington, in favor of the Minnesota Twins’ Joe Mauer. Washington said he “felt bad” Pierzynski didn’t make the team.
“The guy’s having an outstanding year,” Washington said back in July. “He’s been working with a very good pitching staff over there with those Chicago White Sox for many years. I consider him a winning player because he beats you any kind of way he can. He beats you mentally, he beats you physically. So I feel really bad for Pierzynski.”
