The Texas Rangers have re-signed catcher Geovany Soto to a one-year, $3.05 million contract, reports Chris Cotillo of MLBDailyDish. The deal marks a $250,000 raise over his salary in 2013.
Rangers re-sign Geovany Soto to 1-year, $3.05MM deal
Texas will bring its back-up catcher back into the fold for a third season.
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Working sparingly as A.J. Pierzynski’s backup this season, Soto regained the power stroke that netted him the NL Rookie of the Year award back in 2008, hitting .245/.328/.466 with nine home runs in 184 plate appearances. Though the right-handed hitting backstop typically fares better against southpaws, much of his resurgence in 2013 can be attributed to his clobbering of right-handed pitching -- an .874 OPS in 118 PAs.
Soto, 30, was originally acquired by the Rangers at the trade deadline back in July 2012. The Puerto Rican backstop did not perform well in his first few months with the club, leading his non-tendering at the end of the season, but the team eventually took a chance on a one-year deal with him for 2013.
With Pierzynski now back on the open market, the re-signing of Soto gives the Rangers at least one option behind the plate for next season. Soto is unlikely to take on a starting role in 2014, but he could find himself getting more playing time next year depending on who else the club adds behind the plate this offseason.
Per Buster Olney of ESPN, re-upping with Soto will not preclude the Rangers from pursuing Brian McCann, who is widely regarded as the best catcher available in free agency.
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