The Pittsburgh Pirates finally found a catcher, agreeing to terms Saturday with Austin Hedges on a one-year, $5 million contract, a source confirmed to the Tribune-Review.
Hedges, 30, spent the past two-plus seasons with Cleveland, where he batted .163 with four doubles, seven home runs and 30 RBIs in 105 games last season.
The 6-foot-1, 223-pound Hedges has a career .189/.247/.331 slash line with 55 doubles, 66 home runs and 207 RBIs in 605 games over eight major league seasons.
Drafted in the second round by San Diego in 2011, Hedges was traded to Cleveland in a nine-player deal that sent pitcher Mike Clevinger to the Padres on Aug. 31, 2020.
The Pirates had only one catcher on their 40-man roster, minor league player of the year Endy Rodriguez, who manager Derek Shelton said would start next season in the minors. They have another top prospect in 2021 No. 1 overall pick Henry Davis, who finished last season at Double-A Altoona.
The Pirates were seeking a veteran catcher to replace Roberto Perez, who signed a one-year, $5 million contract but played only 21 games before suffering a torn hamstring that required season-ending surgery. The Pirates used seven catchers last season.
Hedges is the fourth free agent to agree to terms with the Pirates this offseason, joining first baseman/designated hitter Carlos Santana ($6.725 million), right-handed starter Vince Velasquez ($3.15 million) and left-handed reliever Jarlin Garcia ($2.5 million).
The Pirates also have third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes ($10 million) and outfielders Bryan Reynolds ($6.75 million) and Miguel Andujar ($1.525 million) under contract for the 2023 season.
