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Texas Rangers sign catcher Geovany Soto to 1-year contract

By Brad Rowland

Sep 24, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers catcher Geovany Soto (8) talks to starting pitcher Yu Darvish (11) on the mound in the first inning of the game against the Houston Astros at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers catcher Geovany Soto (8) talks to starting pitcher Yu Darvish (11) on the mound in the first inning of the game against the Houston Astros at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 24, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers catcher Geovany Soto (8) talks to starting pitcher Yu Darvish (11) on the mound in the first inning of the game against the Houston Astros at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers catcher Geovany Soto (8) talks to starting pitcher Yu Darvish (11) on the mound in the first inning of the game against the Houston Astros at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

It wasn’t exactly a “banner” year for Texas Rangers catcher Geovany Soto, but despite that slight downturn, he has been reportedly re-signed by the team on Tuesday.

Jeff Wilson of the Fort-Worth Star-Telegram is reporting that Soto’s deal is worth $3.05 million plus incentives, and that honestly seems like a slight overpayment for his services. The 30-year-old catcher went to the plate just 184 times last season in Texas, and while his overall numbers were helped by a very solid .466 slugging percentage, he has only one “above average” (2010 in Chicago when he went .280/.393/.497 with 17 home runs) season on his MLB resume.

That said, the Rangers are in dire need of catching help, as Soto and incumbent starter A.J. Pierzynski were set to become free agents at the same time. It would be a bit of a surprise to see Soto enter the 2014 season as the “full-time starter”, but anyone that the Rangers sign likely wouldn’t approach the 529 plate appearances that Pierzynski provided last season.

If Soto can display the same type of power ability that he flashed this season, he’ll likely “pay for” himself in Texas, but the Rangers still have work to do at the backstop position.

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