11-30-2006, 06:53 PM
|
#1 (permalink)
|
| Senior Monk
Status: Offline
Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Connecticut
Posts: 177
vBookie Cash: 500
Rep Power: 2  | Jays Sign Gregg Zaun...not Rod Barajas
Jays re-sign Zaun to two-year deal
Catcher had 12 homers, 40 RBIs in 290 at-bats last season Quote:
TORONTO -- In a strange turn of events, the Blue Jays have re-signed catcher Gregg Zaun to a two-year deal worth $7.25 million. The contract also includes a vesting option for the 2009 season that is based upon games played.
General manager J.P. Ricciardi confirmed the deal Tuesday at Rogers Centre, where the Jays were holding a press conference to introduce Frank Thomas as their new designated hitter. The Blue Jays have another press conference scheduled for 11 a.m. ET on Wednesday to officially announce the Zaun signing.
The Jays had reached a two-year deal with free-agent catcher Rod Barajas, but the signing hit a last-minute road block. A source told MLB.com on Monday night that Barajas had switched agents and canceled his flight to Toronto, where he was scheduled to undergo a physical in order to complete the deal.
The Blue Jays then cut off negotiations with Barajas and re-opened discussions with Zaun, who turned down Toronto's previous two-year offer worth $6 million. Ricciardi said that he and Zaun, who made $1 million in 2006, were able to come to an agreement in about an hour Monday night. Toronto's GM didn't want to get into specifics about the situation with Barajas, though.
Zaun, 35, returns for a fourth season behind the plate for Toronto. Last year, he hit .272 with a career-high 12 homers and 40 RBIs in 290 at-bats. The switch-hitter split time with catcher Bengie Molina, who is also a free agent this winter.
http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/a......6&fext=.jsp | Overpaid  and cant play all season. |
|
|
|  |