Dodgers sign catcher Rod Barajas for one year at $3.25 million

Meet the Dodgers’ new starting catcher, sort of the same as their old starting catcher.

One day after apparently severing ties with Russell Martin, the Dodgers officially signed catcher Rod Barajas to a one-year deal Friday for $3.25 million.

The Dodgers claimed Barajas on waivers Aug. 22 from the Mets after Martin suffered his season-ending hip injury. In 64 at-bats for the Dodgers, Barajas hit .297 with five home runs and 13 RBI.

On the season overall, he hit 17 home runs, so he offers the Dodgers some needed pop. His career on-base percentage, however, is just .284.

Clearly Barajas was not the Dodgers’ first choice, at least not as their everyday catcher, since they were negotiating with Martin until Thursday’s 9 p.m. deadline.

Barajas, 35, split time behind the plate with A.J. Ellis after joining the Dodgers. A local product from Santa Fe Spring High School, he actually wants to play for the Dodgers.

``This is somebody who, if the season were to start today, would take the lion's share of (playing time), with A.J. in a backup role,’’ general manager Ned Colletti told reporters Thursday.

The free-agent pool of available catchers shrank dramatically this week, so Colletti’s options were growing thin.

There is still, however, the possibility that Martin could re-sign with the Dodgers. If his hip actually proves healthy, the best man could win the job and the other serve as the backup.

-- Steve Dilbeck

Comments

[Warren]

If this is how they are going to spend the money can we go back to not spending? Unreal...

[HI Dodger Fan]

we're all waiting on pins and needles to see what ned does for LF. Yahoo mentioned two guys, one who I think has been mentioned before and a new interesting name: Marcus Thames and .... Jermaine Dye. You got to figure Dye is probably chomping at the bit to return to the big leagues. the guy hit 36 HR's in 2008, and 20 in the first half of 2009 before he went into a deep slump through the end of 2009 that resulted in him not playing in 2010. might be worth an incentive-laden contract?

[mike]

NOW TRADE FOR CARLOS BELTRAN NOTHING OFF ARE MAJJOR LEAGUE ROSTER THOUGH give em some prospects another guy we should look at is ty wigginton def underrated player would look great at third hit 22hr 77rbi last year both reasonable options

[skyharbor]

Since we seem to be striving for mediocrity...i suppose we should break out the champagne once again.

[Mike]

Looks like Colleti doesn't want the Dodgers to score a lot of runs next season. First he signs Uribe with a lifetime OBP of .300 and now Barajas with a career .284 OBP. You compound that with pitchers who can't get a ball past the infield. Yes, next year will be bad, no matter how good the pitching is.

[Sit 'n Sleep]

Yawn.

[Zen]

"...he actually wants to play for the Dodgers."

Glad you mentioned that. Happily, as this roster develops, he's in good company.

[OldBrooklynFan]

I'm glad the Dodgers won't have to go outside their organization for a catcher now that Barajas has re-signed.

[Dodger Tony]

Both Uribe and Barajas are passionate players who are extremely team oriented. There are a myriad of aspects to the game of baseball besides the obvious numerical conditions described. What CAN'T be described is heart and the effect such men will have on the team in general. I have no problem with a GM spending this kind of money on these players, one with two rings, and the other with an actual desire to be a Dodger, a home grown citizen of this city. Ooops, I forgot, the city of Los Angeles and the love for it are rarely if ever discussed on these blogs. We are in MUCH better shape this year already than last year by a country mile. An excellent starting staff ready to go, better coaches, two solid acquisitions, so far. Also, the money is undoubtedly back loaded I'm sure.

On Base Percentage is an intensely overrated statistic when it comes to the Dodgers, who NEVER EVER drive anyone in anyway. Let's see where this all goes before we cast aspersions to the wind. Whatever that means.

[Labeldude]

You see, this is why it does no good for Frank to open up his checkbook, because Flanders doesn't know how to spend it. Here's a guy that made $500K+ last year that they don't offer arbitration to, which if he accepted maybe costs them $1.5 mil for the same year he's going to have at $3.25. Had he turned down arbitration and signed elsewhere, I believe he was a Type B FA which would've netted you a sandwich pick, and if he did sign somewhere else you have $3.25 mil to sign Martin, Navarro, somebody. Ned says that if the season started today Rod would get the lion's share of playing time. So is that to say that if he signs Martin (or someone else) that he just paid $3.25 mil for a back-up catcher?

Now on the surface, I don't care. Barajas will probably put up better numbers than Martin anyway, but what made sense to Ned in not offering Barajas arbitration in the first place? I know, it's not my money, but the accountant in me has got to know.

[HI Dodger Fan]

Labeldude, If I was Frank I'd hire you now to explain these things to Numb Ned. I still don't see why Frank continually lets Ned waste his money, what little he has left.

[N.P.Krohn]

Great signing. Ellis and Barajas will provide more production than all but 7-8 teams in all of mlb not just our league. How is that mediocre? How many catchers hit 17 HR last year? Ellis maybe starting by the end of the year. He's better than people realize. Best point made by Dodger Tony because nobody strands runners like the blues due. And I wasn't aware that 10yr vets are still involved in arbitration.

[Stan]

Labeldude has a good point.

If Martin re-signs for $3.5 mil plus incentives, that will be at least $7 mil that the Dodgers have tied up in catchers.

If Martin re-signs and has been a longtime starter with Ethier, Kemp and Loney, will they be happy with Martin on the bench? Don't forget, they won't have Manny's presence to keep them in line. Uribe doesn't have the credentials. With Barajas at $3.6 mil and guaranteed starting by Colletti, how far into the season will Mattingley start getting an earful?

[JW]

Barajas knows the pitching staff and has 'some' pop to his bat. Catchers in the free agent pool is weak. Its a decent signing. Lets see how this 'plays' out now that most of the team is in a contract year...Go Blue!

[Joe the Plumber]

Barajas, the Met's reject, can squat, throw runners out, and has pop in his bat, something the younger Martin can't. Let's not waste bringing Martin back. So another upgrade from bad to medicore.