Pirates sign Barajas

[love_that_reefer]

The Pirates announced that they signed catcher Rod Barajas to a one-year deal that includes a team option for 2013. Barajas will earn a $4MM salary in 2012 and the option would pay him another $3.5MM in 2013, according to Yahoo's Tim Brown (on Twitter). Icon Sports Group represents the 36-year-old backstop. The 36-year-old backstop batted .230/.287/.430 with 16 homers, 47 RBI and a .717 OPS over 336 plate appearances with the Dodgers this season while throwing out 25 percent (20-for-80) of would-be basestealers. With Ryan Doumit and Chris Snyder free agents, he'll be the primary catcher in Pittsburgh next season.

I really don't get this move. Barajas is only slightly better than Doumit defensively but Doumit is the better offensive option. Why not just spend that $4 million on Doumit? I know he hurt his knee last year but he came back strong in September so that shouldn't be an issue. Maybe they will still bring Doumit back to be a backup C, RF and 1B. Overall it's a dumb move and the Dodgers even get a compensatory pick from it all.

[cjkalt]

Cause Doumit will get more than 4 mil?

[love_that_reefer]

Maybe but not that much more.

[realmofotalk]

Maybe but not that much more.

That's what you think.

[love_that_reefer]

Thanks Capt. Obvious

[Sabu88]

Here's a solid idea. Let's not give our starting shortstop a 2.5 million dollar raise (give or take a few hundred thousand)....even though our team is mostly pitch to contact and our only capable K guy is a 3rd starter at best....let's dump this top defensive caliber, near-gold glove winning shortstop.

Now that we have self-manufactured a glaring hole up the middle with 0.0 credible prospects or veteran backups worth a damn in place, let's take on Rod fucking Barajas for FOUR million and watch him become demotivated by July all whilst hitting .220.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[Kingdom]

I say he hits .200

[realmofotalk]

The Dodgers offered free agent catcher Ryan Doumit a one-year deal for just under $3MM and the catcher turned it down, a source close to the team told Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times (via Twitter).

Good ol' Ned. When he's not paying way too much for marginal players, he's making unrealistic low ball offers. That's just foolish to think Doumit will sign for less than what Barajas just received.

[Kingdom]

The Ned market for DH's is down this year. It's okay, he's compensating by paying Matt Kemp a bajillion dollars and he may throw a dollar or two at random Asian reliever.