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

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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