The Cincinnati Reds have signed free agent catcher Brayan Pena to a two-year contract, reports Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes.
Reds sign Brayan Pena to 2-year contract
Pena will likely serve as the Reds backup catcher in 2014, freeing the team to trade or non-tender Ryan Hanigan.
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
The agreement will not be official until Pena undergoes a physical, according to Rojas. Complete contract details have not been released, but Pena will make a minimum of $1.25 million in 2014.
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Pena served as the backup catcher for the Detroit Tigers last season, batting .297/.315/.397 over 243 plate appearances. Pena, a free-agent for the first time in his career, spent the previous four seasons with the Kansas City Royals.
Devin Mesoraco served as the Reds' primary catcher in 2013 and will likely fill that role again in 2014. Ryan Hanigan was the backup catcher in Cincinnati last season, but it now a trade or non-tender candidate, according to Buster Olney of ESPN. The Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees have previously expressing interest in Hanigan.
Both Reds catchers struggled at the plate last season; Mesoraco hit .238/.287/.362, while Hanigan had an even worse campaign, batting .198/.306/.261.
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