The Reds have re-signed catcher Ramon Hernandez to a one-year contract according to the team's official Twitter feed. FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal reports that the deal is worth $3MM (Twitter link).
Hernandez, 34, hit .297/.364/.428 with 18 doubles and seven homers in 352 plate appearances this season, though he was usurped by Ryan Hanigan as the team's everyday catcher. Hernandez failed to appear in the 120 games needed for his $3.25MM option to vest, getting into just 97 contests.
Luke Adams broke down Hernandez's free agent stock last month.
Nice. The NL’s second most productive catching due remains together for 2011.
Surprised he didn’t get a full time job. Then again, must be nice for Reds fans. I love having a potential starter in David Ross backing up Brian McCann in the NL’s most productive catching duo lol.
McCann and Ross are the real deal. Now as for 1B and CF, that’s another story…
I’d say LF and CF. Freddie Freeman is going to be the real deal. Did you see the bomb he hit off Roy Halladay?
The Reds must be happy.It didn’t look like they were looking inti signing any catchers.
I am a little hesitant on this, was hoping to see Yasmani Grandal or Devin Mesorasco come up and help Hanigan with the catching duties this year. 3 million on a budget that Jocketty himself has said is going to be tight with only minor payroll expansion.
I love Hernandez, he is a solid catcher who is good at calling games and provides some hitting, however, he is getting older and the Reds have too many options to feel that they need him on the team.
This is the last year for Hernandez and the Reds. So this deal is fine for 2011
Well, they only signed him for 1yr. I could easily see them letting him leave and turning over the catching job to Ryan Hanigan. If the Reds aren’t doing good by the trade dealine they could always trade him.
Grandal hasn’t even played the upper levels of the minors so he is definitely not ready for the majors. Mesoraco had a strong year but he still needs some more seasoning. You don’t want to rush a guy like the Reds did with Bailey. Could potentially hurt his development. Smart to let him start everyday in AAA with Corky Miller mentoring him on the smaller aspects of the game before being thrown into the fire.
I’m sure that’s why the reds decided to keep hernandez, because hanigan would’ve had an inexperianced backup catcher.
Hanigan himself has had some health issues in the past. An inexperienced backup could prove costly to the Reds if they hadn’t signed Ramon. Plus when your young catcher, who has the tools to become a very good big leaguer, needs to develop you play him where he can play every day. That is AAA. Not riding pine in the big leagues.