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Red Sox free agency: Red Sox could pursue A.J. Pierzynski

Could A.J. Pierzynski replace Jarrod Saltalamacchia behind the plate for 2014?

Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

The Red Sox' search for a catcher might have expanded to include A.J. Pierzynski according to Rob Bradford of WEEI who, citing a major league source, says the team has 'shown interest' in the veteran catcher.

Pierzynski, who will be 37 before the 2014 season starts, would presumably represent the "safe" option for the Red Sox. With Christian Vazquez and Blake Swihart not far off, the Sox could look to sign him as a stopgap rather than commit significant dollars and years to bringing back Jarrod Saltalamacchia or, more dramatically, signing up Brian McCann.

As the old saying goes, though, you get what you pay for. Pierzynski hit all of .272/.297/.425 in 2013, and while he is one season removed from a .351 wOBA with the White Sox, that's an outlier in a sea of mediocre seasons, with Pierzynski not having reached the .350 mark since 2003 before that.

The problems don't only lie in his bat, either. Pierzynski is unimpressive behind the plate, and has long carried a negative reputation. That's not just because his opponents don't like him, either--he's had more than a few incidents with players on his own teams, as well.

Still, he's a warm body at catcher, and perhaps that's all Boston's other offseason plans allow or call for. You can always do worse.

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