Sources of the Chicago Tribune have said the Texas Rangers are interested in acquiring 33-year-old White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski via trade.
Pierzynski is best known for his role in carving together one of the best pitching staffs in MLB, dropping the White Sox ERA from 4.91 in 2004 to 3.61 in 2005, his first year with the team, leading to a World Series championship. Unless you watch ESPN, then he’s best known for causing controversy for playing baseball intelligently.
Pierzynski is in the last year of a $6.7 million contract and with White Sox prospect Tyler Flowers waiting in the wings and Pierzynski batting .200 with two home runs, 11 RBI and a .254 on-base percentage, it would seem as though this would be Pierzynski’s last year sporting a White Sox uniform.
The catch, however, is come June 14, Pierzynski will become a “5-and-10” man. Any player who has 10 years in the majors and five years on the same team has the right to veto any trade.
The White Sox essentially have little less than a month to move Pierzynski freely.
The Rangers, on the other hand, have been looking for a solid every-day catcher since Jarrod Saltalamacchia didn’t pan out.
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