12/09/2010 12:14 PM ET Mets sign free agent catcher Ronny Paulino

Mets Headlines • Mets Inbox: Can Mejia make the rotation? • d'Arnaud leads list of top catching prospects • Cut4: Swoboda shares Yogi tales at B.A.T. dinner • Mets sign reliever Feliciano to Minors deal • Wheeler, Syndergaard on list of top RHP prospects • More Mets Headlines ADVERTISEMENT

print this page    |    e-mail this page

FLUSHING, N.Y. – The New York Mets today announced that they have signed free agent catcher Ronny Paulino to a one-year contract. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Paulino, 29, has a .273 (431-1576) batting average over his six-year major league career with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Florida Marlins. He hit .259 (82-361) with 18 doubles, four home runs and 37 RBI in 91 games for the Marlins last season.

The 6-3, 250-pounder has a .338 (164-485) career batting average against lefthanded pitchers, the sixth-highest average among active major leaguers with at least 300 career plate appearances. He hit .358 (34-95) vs. lefties in 2010.

Last season, Paulino threw out 42 % (24-57) of base runners attempting to steal. For his career, he has thrown out 44 % (119-268) of would-be basestealers.

Paulino has a career .287 (120-418) batting average with runners in scoring position. The Santo Domingo, DR native's best season came in 2006, when he batted .310 (137-442) with 19 doubles, six home runs and 55 RBI in 129 games for the Pirates.

Paulino will miss the first eight games of the 2011 season while completing his 50-game suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.

print this page    |    e-mail this page

Sphere Related Articles & Blogs