Brayan Pena to Cardinals: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction

The St. Louis Cardinals announced Monday they signed free-agent catcher Brayan Pena to a two-year contract. According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Pena's contract is worth $5 million.   

Pena saw the most extended action of his MLB career over the past two seasons with the Cincinnati Reds. He appeared in 108 games with the club in 2015 and batted .273 with 18 RBI and only 34 strikeouts in 333 official at-bats.        

Prior to his time in Cincinnati, the 33-year-old had stints with the Atlanta Braves and Kansas City Royals before spending the 2013 campaign with the Detroit Tigers.

Upon officially leaving his most recent club for a National League Central rival, Pena expressed his gratitude for his time with the Reds on Twitter.

"Reds fans, I want to thank you guys so much for all your love and respect for me and my family, my time there was AMAZING, thank you so much," said Pena, adding, "To my teammates, coaches, trainers, front office people, everybody who works on and off the field for Reds Nation, THANK YOU SO MUCH."

Monday's acquisition is merely insurance for a Cardinals team that already has a seven-time All-Star and eight-time Gold Glove Award winner in Yadier Molina at Pena's position. Molina still has three years remaining on a lucrative contract, per Spotrac.com, and he figures to continue being an elite player.

St. Louis now has a veteran backstop option to turn to and an upgrade to last year's No. 2 catcher, Tony Cruz. Also helping Pena's cause for playing time is the fact he's a switch-hitter. He can be serviceable in spot duty with a loaded Cardinals lineup around him.

Manager Mike Matheny has a greater luxury to give Molina rest during a long season prior to what should be another playoff push for the club in 2016 after it finished the 2015 season with baseball's best record at 100-62.