3:37pm: Pena’s $5MM guarantee will be spread out evenly, paying him $2.5MM in each season of the contract, MLBTR has learned.
3:35pm: Pena’s contract guarantees him a total of $5MM, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Twitter link).
3:11pm: The Cardinals announced that they have signed catcher Brayan Pena to a two-year contract. Tom Ackerman of KMOX in St. Louis first reported the news shortly before the announcement (Twitter link).
Pena spent the past two seasons with the division-rival Reds, where he batted a combined .263/.313/.339 with five homers in 739 plate appearances. The soon-to-be 34-year-old walked at a 6.6 percent clip and struck out in just 10.2 percent of his plate appearances during his time with the Reds. Pena is a switch-hitter but is markedly better from the left side of the dish.
From a defensive standpoint, Pena has typically thrown out a respectable number of baserunners, though this past season’s uncharacteristic 18 percent caught-stealing rate was the lowest of his career. That dragged his career mark down a bit, to 28 percent, though it should be noted that the pendulum swung the other way in 2014, when Pena prevented an excellent 43 percent of attempted thefts. Framing metrics tell a similar story, as Pena graded out as one of the worst pitch-framers in the league this past season but had previously rated anywhere from average to slightly above-average in his limited time behind the dish. The Cardinals will hope that the 2015 season was an aberration in terms of Pena’s defense, and he’s instead able to replicate the solid, if unspectacular defensive skills he showed prior to the most recent campaign.
This signing figures to supplant the arbitration eligible Tony Cruz as Yadier Molina‘s primary backup for the next two seasons. That makes it likely that Cruz, who is projected by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz to earn $1MM next season, will be either traded or non-tendered before this Wednesday’s deadline, as the club probably won’t have interest in carrying three catchers on the roster.
Good for him, he’s a good guy.
He’s an excellent clubhouse guy, always positive with a smile on his face. I’ll miss him on the Reds.
No power but he hit .273/.334/.324 last year which is pretty good for a backup
But, that will take time from Tony Cruz.
Ding Ding Ding
Yep, I think that’s the point. Cruz is a decent enough defensive backup but he just can’t hit
He’s a great backup to have and a fan favorite. Sad to see him go, but the Reds no longer needed him. I’m really sad to see him head to the Cardinals though.
One of the most likeable people in baseball goes to the Cardinals? As the backup to one of the most hated players in Reds country, Yadier Molina? Wow.
Good pickup by the Cardinals, Brayan Pena did a good job for the Reds, often in long term roles (1b, starting catcher) he wasn’t initially expected to fill. Sure he lacks power, but he’s a respectable defensive catcher and reasonably good at getting on base, while also being a switch hitter. His recent contract was a big bargain and success for the Reds. The Reds have already moved onto Tucker Barnhart as a younger, less expensive, and perhaps better backup for Mesoraco.
Welcome to the Cardinals Organization, you played well for Cincinnati.
Looks like Tucker Barnhart will be Cincinnatis new backup. He wasn’t that bad either. Has a bit more power potential than Pena imo, but doesn’t hit for as high of an average.
He hit 252/324/326 last year at just under 250 ABs.
Barnhart isn’t really becoming anything new, he’s basically been the backup catcher since Mesoraco got hurt at the start of the season. By the end of the season Bryan Price had identified Barnhart, not Pena, as the starter.
Barnhart is a better defensive catcher, much younger, and costs ~$2m less. Barnhart has always been more a glove-first guy, but his offensive numbers in 2015 were surprisingly similar to Pena’s. Any power potential Barnhart offers over Pena is merely an irrelevant side note, in my opinion.
Yippee a good backup catcher signing!!
Very glad the Cardinals signed this guy, theyve needed at least a decent backup catcher for a long time, and now they have one. Welcome aboard Brayan!
This guy is underrated…good framer, solid bat, positive attitude….!
$2.5mm is not bad to play 20 mlb games a year unless the primary gets hurt.
Id want more playing time, however.
Brayan Pena has played 223 games for the Reds over the past two seasons, without getting hurt or anything, so he can also be counted on for a lot more than 20 games, if needed.
If Molina stays healthy, cool. If not, also cool, the Cardinals now have someone who can fill in long term.
justin morneau is next signing
No Cruz can play also 3B.
Cruz would likely put up better offensive numbers with regular playing time. I wish the best for him. He had one of the hardest jobs in baseball, backing up Yadier Molina.
Wish the Reds kept him. We have no idea if Mesoraco can catch.
not a sexy signing but the kind of deal a good club makes. The years behind the plate have taken a toll on Molina. Morneau makes more sense with a one or two year deal than signing Davis IMO. Obviously, Justin’s best years are behind him but if he’s healthy, he might be a 15-75 .290 guy with a pretty good glove. I have no idea if Adams can return and he can’t hit lefties to save his life.
kershaw saw what adams did with one of his pitches
Tony Cruz has been a dependable back up for Molina. He has had some clutch hits. I think he’s done an excellent job, given the amount of playing time he received. I wish only the best for Tony Cruz!!! I don’t think another back up for Molina will do any better than he has in accepting his roll.
Could Cards be setting table to make a play for Cueto? Pena was his personal catcher for Reds. Cueto too expensive??
As Redsfan I am sorry to loose Pena. A class guy and good catcher. But we needed to move forward with Barnhardt and Mezz. He will be missed. Cards got a good one!
cueto ain’t kicking anymore in st louis. he’s a punk
Not with the history between him and the Cards, Id say no
Yeah, a Cardinals uniform won’t make the fans forget that he ended LaRue’s career with a kick to the head.
I hope the cards make a deal and give Adams/Wong to get a first baseman a strong one
Like Freeman???