Rod Barajas is on the verge of becoming the Toronto Blue Jays' everyday catcher.
According to multiple sources, the Blue Jays are close to signing the 31-year-old free agent to a two-year contract worth between $5.5-million and $6-million (all figures U.S.) and could have a deal in place by Tuesday. That's the same day the Blue Jays expect to have recent free-agent signing Frank Thomas in town.
Gregg Zaun and Bengie Molina shared the catcher's job last season, but both are free agents. The Blue Jays offered Zaun a two-year, $6-million package, but he turned it down and is said to be entertaining offers from the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees as a backup. The Cincinnati Reds, who have David Ross in line to be their catcher, have also expressed interest.
Barajas's agent, Terry Bross, approached the Blue Jays about his client at the general managers meetings this month in Naples, Fla. Bross said this week that the Blue Jays had moved to the front of a group of five clubs interested in Barajas's services.
Barajas played in 97 games for the Texas Rangers last season, batted .256, hit 11 home runs and had 41 runs batted in in 344 at-bats. He had 21 homers two years ago, when he had 410 at-bats.
Bross could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi confirmed the club has had discussions with Barajas and has made him an offer. Ricciardi has said he wants to have a catcher in hand before he leaves for the winter meetings, which will begin in Orlando on Monday, after which his focus will turn to re-signing left-hander Ted Lilly.
