A.J. Pierzynski (Photo Credit: Getty Images, By: Jonathan Daniel)
(CBS) A.J. Pierzynski will now officially be referred to as “former White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski.”
On Wednesday, the Rangers formally announced the signing of Pierzynski to a one-year contract worth $7.75 million.
After eight years on the South Side – along with a World Series ring – the soon-to-be 36-year-old catcher didn’t want to leave the place he’s called home since 2005.
“It was really one of those things that never seemed like it was going to work out,” Pierzynski said of brief and never serious discussions with the Sox. “It just seemed like it was always … they made some calls but it never got to the point where it was, ‘Hey, let’s move on something.’
“At the same time, am I disappointed? Any time you’ve been eight years in a place, you’d love to go back and I’d like to have finished my career there. But I’m looking forward to a new place and a new challenge.”
Pierzynski will now join former Cubs catcher Geovany Soto in Texas to compete for the starting job.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve changed teams,” he said. “I’m looking forward to … walking into the clubhouse for the first time and meeting new people. It definitely puts a pep in your step and changes things. It’s going to be fun.”
