Robinson Chirinos returning to Texas Rangers. How does that affect other catchers?
Robinson Chirinos never wanted to leave the Texas Rangers, and the Rangers have realized the error in their decision to let him go last off-season.
A reunion has been arranged.
MLB sources confirmed Tuesday that Chirinos and the Rangers have agreed to a one-year, $6.75 million deal that will put him back behind the plate after he spent last season with the Houston Astros.
Chirinos will make $5.75 million in 2020. The contract includes a club option for 2021 worth $6.25 million or $1 million buyout.
The Rangers did not exercise a friendly club option on Chirinos in November 2019 and quickly signed veteran Jeff Mathis to a two-year deal, saying they were placing more value on defense than offense.
Mathis’ struggled to one of the worst offensive seasons in baseball, batting only .158 with a meager .433 OPS, and the Rangers had the worst offensive production at the position.
Chirinos, 35, had the good fortune of catching Cy Young winner Justin Verlander and runner-up Gerrit Cole last season as the Astros went to the World Series, losing in seven games to the Washington Nationals.
Chirinos hit 17 homers and posted a .790 OPS in a career-high 437 at-bats, and he also caught a career-high 112 games. He hit two of his three postseason homers in the World Series, but was only a .146 hitter in 14 playoff games.
Mathis and rookie Jose Trevino are on the 40-man roster. Daniels said on Monday that the Rangers would bring both to spring training even if a catcher was added to a big-league deal.
Trevino has minor-league options remaining, but the Rangers have discussed using the expanded 26th player on the roster on a third catcher.
This story was originally published January 7, 2020 at 8:13 PM.
