Pittsburgh Pirates Fill Huge Need with Rod Barajas Signing

The Pittsburgh Pirates make their first splash in free agency and filled a major hole behind the dish with Thursday's signing of veteran catcher Rod Barajas.

After the options of both Chris Snyder and Ryan Doumit weren't picked up, that left the Bucs with only Michael McKenry likely returning behind the plate, so an upgrade was surely needed.

While Barajas won't be confused with Mike Piazza when it comes to offensive production behind the plate, he's a guy that can handle the bat.

The Pirates will be the sixth team that Barajas has suited up for in his now 13-year MLB career. Barajas hit .230 with 16 homers last season for the Dodgers and that's likely what the Bucs will get from him in 2012. Barajas is a career .238 hitter with 125 homers and 449 RBI in his 13 seasons.

While he's a guy that has some pop, he's also an OBP liability, posting a career mark of .284. Barajas did post a career high OBP of .361 in 2010, but fell back to a .297 mark last season.

Overall the Barajas signing is a good one for the Bucs and general manager Neal Huntington.

In Barajas they get a veteran guy who can handle a pitching staff which ultimately is goal No. 1, and he will help out a tad bit offensively, which is something McKenry wouldn't do playing everyday.

The contract is a one-year deal worth $4 million which includes a club option of $3.5 million for 2013.