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Piazza Agrees To Deal With Padres
Jan. 30, 2006

Free-agent catcher Mike Piazza has agreed to a one-year, $2 million contract with the Padres, FOXSports.com has learned.

The contract includes an $8 million mutual option for 2007.
Piazza, 37, initially sought to sign with an American League team, intending to become a designated hitter. He chose the Padres over the Phillies when no such opportunity became available.

The Padres are expected to use Piazza as their cleanup hitter and No. 1 catcher. They were preparing to go to spring training with two career backups, Doug Mirabelli and David Ross, splitting time at the position.

The Yankees showed mild interest in Piazza, and other AL clubs informed Piazza's representatives that the only way they could sign him was by trading a high-priced DH type.

The Orioles, for example, would have needed to move catcher Javy Lopez. The Rangers would have needed to trade Phil Nevin. The Devil Rays would have needed to move Aubrey Huff.

The Padres envision Dave Roberts, Ryan Klesko and Brian Giles hitting in the first three spots ahead of Piazza. Vinny Castilla then would bat fifth, followed by Mike Cameron, Khalil Greene and Mark Bellhorn or Josh Barfield.

Piazza hit 18 home runs in 371 at-bats for the Mets last season, a rate second only to the Rangers' Rod Barajas among catchers who had enough plate appearances to qualify for the batting title. He also finished with a .785 on-base/slugging percentage, seventh among major-league catchers.

Throwing out base stealers is Piazza's primary deficiency as a catcher. Opponents were 82-for-92 (89.1 percent) against him last season, the highest percentage against any major-league catcher.