The Twins and Ryan Doumit have signed a two-year, $7MM extension, the team announced. The deal covers the 2013 and 2014 seasons and will pay the Sosnick/Cobbe client an annual salary of $3.5MM. Doumit, 31, will complete his one-year, $3MM contract before the extension kicks in.
Doumit's .271/.332/.443 season batting line comes close to replicating his career line of .271/.334/.442. He has split his time between catcher and designated hitter in his first season with the Twins, also making appearances at first base and in right field. Doumit posted a .303/.353/.477 line in 236 plate appearances for the Pirates in 2011, when he missed significant time because of a non-displaced fracture in his left ankle.
ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick first reported that the sides were nearing a deal. The deal includes $250K per year in bonuses based on plate appearances, Crasnick tweets.
ZaneC
good
TwinsTerritory
As long as Mauer isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, this is a good deal for the Twins. Doumit isn’t very good defensively at any position, but the ability to catch, play 1st, and DH makes him a good fit for the team at $3.5M.
Javier Mejia
with that contract dont worry bout mauer going anywhere.
MauerPower
If he stays healthy, Ryan should be a nice back-up catcher.
JimnJan
I fear this may simply be an enhancement to his trade value. He’s been a real upgrade, though.
1980CHAMPS
It makes sense why a lot of catchers with pop would want to play in the AL. You get more days off and a chance to DH. Someone like McCann could probably extend his career much longer in the AL.
donna rothwell
Nothing like paying $27.5 million for 2 catchers…
Colin Christopher
And watching them combine to catch about 120 games.
Lucas
And hit like first basemen.
Tony DiQuattro
I liked them getting Doumit in the first place, I was a little surprised he got a short, low value deal and figured this was the deal he would have gotten in the first place.
Love the Mauer/Doumit combo, I would have liked to see Doumit rotating in with Posey if Hector Sanchez wasn’t around.
bigpat
I can imagine the Twins getting laughed at but this move makes sense. There is no rule that says they have to get rid of every player of value since they aren’t winning right now.
From what I can imagine, he and Mauer taking turns is really helping
each of them stay healthy. They both get banged up a lot and having a
legit backup C will keep Mauer fresh and not punt the catcher spot in the
lineup. Also, Doumit was probably ecstatic to sign there since he was
never built to catch full time anyways given his defensive liabilities
and chronic injuries. He’s finally staying healthy.
Honestly, I wouldn’t have minded him coming back to Pittsburgh and being around for a possible playoff run, he really deserved to experience it if it were to happen.
BradyAndersonsSideburns
This is a good move by the Twins. He’s the type of player that has more value to his team than he’d bring back in a potential trade.
TheLastPirateFan
Noooooo!!! We want you back in the Burgh
FacelessGeneralManager
Amazing how this seasons numbers are only a combined .003 off his career. Sorta cool
lefty177
that’s exactly what I thought, it is pretty cool
Mr. Webster
With due respect to Kelly Shoppach, THIS is the guy I wanted to see the Red Sox get this past winter.