ARLINGTON —
A.J. Pierzynski can joke with Rangers manager Ron Washington about last season’s All-Star snub now that he’s the starting catcher for the Rangers.
They shared a laugh over lunch a few days before Wednesday’s announcement that Pierzynski's one-year free agent contract with Texas was complete. Both considered the All-Star issue dead after it happened in July, even though Pierzynski had a cryptic retort when Washington explained the difficulty of the decision.
“Everybody keeps trying to make a big deal out of it, but I've known Wash for a really long time,’ Pierzynski said. “It’s not going to change the way I feel about Ron Washington because I know what he’s done in this game and I know where he stands and what he's all about. It’s over and done with for me.”
Washington said Pierzynski will be the primary catcher, pushing Geovany Soto to the backup role after he re-signed as a free agent. Pierzynski hit .278 with a career-high 27 home runs in 135 games for the Chicago White Sox, while Soto took a pay cut after hitting .196 in 47 games following a trade with the Chicago Cubs.
Pierzynski, a two-time All-Star who has been to the playoffs four times and won the 2005 World Series with the White Sox, has long been known as an irritant to opposing players and even someone who didn’t always please his teammates either. Washington says he always felt otherwise.
“I always loved him; I never hated him,” Washington said. “I always loved him because he always believed he did anything and everything he had to do to try to beat you. I admired that.”
The Rangers needed a left-handed power hitter after losing All-Star slugger Josh Hamilton in free agency to the Los Angeles. They also had a void at catcher because Mike Napoli, a key to Texas reaching a second straight World Series in 2011, bolted for Boston.
Soto became a free agent when the Rangers didn't agree to a contract before a deadline earlier this month. But he eventually agreed to a $2.75 million, one-year contract, a more than 20 percent decrease from his $4.3 million payroll last season. Terms of Pierzynski's deal weren't disclosed.
Pierzynski is a .284 career hitter in 1,629 games with the White Sox (2005-12), San Francisco (2004) and Minnesota (1998-2003). He could also play some designated hitter. He caught 121 games last year, leads and all active players with 1,559 games as a catcher and doesn't see a need to slow down even though he turns 36 on Sunday.
"Physically, I feel awesome," said Pierzynski, who matched his career high with 77 RBIs last season. "Mentally, I'm as good as I've ever been. I always joke that I have to thank my mom and dad because they gave me good genes as far as health goes."
To make room for Pierzynski on the 40-man roster, the Rangers designated catcher Luis Martinez for assignment.
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MLB: Rangers complete deal for free agent C Pierzynski
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GC Softball: Sam Rayburn ends Hubbard's run, 7-2
The Hubbard Lady Jags' magical playoff run came to an end against the Sam Rayburn Lady Rebels, keeping Hubbard just short of getting to the state tournament. Dallas Fletcher hit a two-run home run before Sam Rayburn pulled away for a 7-2 victory over the Lady Jaguars in the Class 1A Region II final on Friday night.
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GC Baseball: Dawson, Windthorst washed out in Weatherford
After two hours of watching the rain pound the infield tarp and lightning flash intermittently, Dawson and Windthorst coaches said no more to Weatherford. The Trojans have the lead through four innings, 7-6.
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JUCO World Series: The goods ... Navarro knows what it takes
The Navarro Bulldogs won the 2011 JUCO World Series the way most baseball championships are won. With a deep pitching staff. An unsung hero. Great defense. And a defining moment, catcher J.T. Files’ walkoff home run in the national championship game.
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Navarro County Pro Rodeo set to hit town next week
It’s almost rodeo time in Navarro County. The Navarro County Pro Rodeo is coming to town next weekend at the Navarro County Youth Exposition Center. Gates will open at 6 p.m. both Friday, May 31, and Saturday, June 1, with the rodeo beginning about 8 p.m.
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Melton collects two more hits, but Aggies fall to Miss. St., 6-4
Adam Frazier went 4 for 5 with an RBI and Mississippi State beat Texas A&M 6-4 Thursday night in the Southeastern Conference tournament. Hunter Melton was 2 for 4 with an RBI single in the first.
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GC Baseball: Unbelievable - Windthorst plates 6 in seventh to stun Dawson
Bo Moore lives by the run. He likes to put pressure on the opponent. A three-run seventh looked like just enough cushion in a five-run game. But it wasn’t. Windthorst scored six runs, five with two outs, to steal a 7-6 win from Dawson in Game 1 of the Region II-1A seminfinals at Weatherford College.
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NC Baseball: Bloodlines run deep for top hurler
Lukas Schiraldi will likely be drafted in the first five to six rounds in June’s Major League Baseball draft. Navarro’s right-hander already has signed with the University of Texas. His baseball career will continue at the next level after the JUCO World Series.
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Melton homers again as A&M tops Vanderbilt, 5-0
Parker Ray pitched eight-plus innings to lead Texas A&M to a 5-0 victory over top-seeded Vanderbilt on Wednesday in the second round of the Southeastern Conference baseball tournament. Hunter Melton of Corsicana homered for the second straight day.
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GC Softball: Single focus - Hubbard has sights set on steady Sam Rayburn
When Tuesday’s rains blew through Hubbard, blowing up the last half of practice, the Lady Jags loaded up, and went home. They can only hope to be loading up and going south next week. Hubbard (24-6-1) has a chance to set GPS devices for Austin if the Lady Jags can get past Sam Rayburn (28-2) Friday in the Region II-1A championship.
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Area Schedule: Updated to correct Navarro's game time Saturday
Here is an updated schedule for this week's three remaining Golden Circle sports teams: Navarro baseball, Dawson baseball and Hubbard softball. It corrects the game time for Navarro, which is playing in the JUCO World Series in Colorado, on Mountain Time.
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