Veteran catcher A.J. Pierzynski will pursue a free agent deal this winter, according to SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo (Twitter links). There had been rumblings that the 39-year-old would hang up his spikes at season’s end.
It would seem there’s still a possibility that Pierzynski calls it quits if he can’t find an offer to his liking, but he won’t do so before testing interest. He will enter a market that features quite a few second catcher candidates, though of course that also reflects the fact that many teams will be sending receivers into free agency. With catching in high demand league-wide, it wouldn’t be surprising to see a club take a chance on the elder statesman.
Pierzynski will not be entering another run at the open market with the best of platform seasons. He slashed a meager .219/.243/.304 with two long balls in his 259 trips to the plate last year. Though he played in half of Atlanta’s total contests, even though his season ended early due to injury, Pierzynski failed to tally 100 games for the first time since way back in 2000 — ending a rather remarkable run.
Teams weighing a run at the salty veteran will no doubt be intrigued by his 2015 season, in which he provided the Braves with 436 plate appearances of .300/.339/.430 hitting. That showing earned him a $3MM contract to return in 2016. Over Pierzynski’s 19 major league campaigns, he has also appeared with the White Sox, Twins, Giants, Cardinals, and Rangers, compiling a lifetime .280/.319/.420 batting line and launching 188 home runs.
You forgot about the Boston Red Sox in 2014
I we all have tried to forget about that.
Enter the sound of no phones ringing
Sox will take him back, they like picking up their old players and living in the past.
Examples?
Nvm thought you were talking about the Red Sox at first
I’ve been a huge AJ fan since he was with the White Sox and have been following whatever team he’s been on. I went to see him at the Cell last year when the Braves played the Sox, and I thought he looked really good yet. With just one year removed from a .300 season,, he should try another year. Also, if anybody can whip a 40-year body into shape by hard work, it’s AJ. And he helped thei Braves young pitchers a lot. While I think the White Sox should sign him, I recognize that with Hahn as GM, that is highly unlikely, since he seems to like colorless players, although it was a very colorful team in 2005 when they won the World Series. If a team isn’t going to spend big money to get the elite free agents, then it should get the more colorful players, who may be a bargain because there are too many GMs like Hahn around.. I think the Twins should sign him, and he would eventually make a good coach or manager for them.