Red Sox, Pierzynski agree to deal

Boston, MA (SportsNetwork.com) - The Boston Red Sox have apparently signed catcher A.J. Pierzynski.

CBS Sports first reported the deal, which according to the Boston Herald is for one year and pending a physical.

After eight years with the Chicago White Sox, Pierzynski signed a one-year deal with the Rangers last offseason and appeared in 134 games for Texas, hitting .272 with 17 home runs and 70 RBI.

He also threw out base-stealers at a career-high 33 percent.

One of the most durable catchers in baseball, the soon-to-be 37-year-old Pierzynski is primarily known for his offense, but is one of the more respected game callers behind the plate and was selected to the American League All Star team in both 2006 and 2008.

Pierzynski broke into the majors with the Minnesota Twins in 1998 and in addition to the White Sox and Rangers, has also played for the Giants. He is a .283 lifetime hitter over the course of his 16-year career with 172 home runs and 800 RBI.

For his career Pierzynski is a .322 hitter at Fenway Park, but oddly enough has never homered there.

Minnesota and Toronto had also been linked to Pierzynski.

With Pierzynski on board it likely signals the end for free agent Jarrod Saltalamacchia in Boston. Saltalamacchia, who is eight years younger than Pierzynski, hit .273 a year ago for the World Series champions with 14 home runs and 65 RBI.