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Pirates Bolster Their Backstops, Agree to Contract With Free Agent Catcher Austin Hedges

By Griffin Floyd, Pittsburgh Baseball Now
Austin Hedges FILE -Cleveland Guardians catcher Austin Hedges throws out Tampa Bay Rays' Wander Franco at first base during the sixth inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Cleveland. The Pittsburgh Pirates and veteran catcher Austin Hedges agreed to a $5 million, one-year contract on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022 according to a person familiar with the negotiations.(AP Photo/Ron Schwane, File) (Ron Schwane/AP)
By Griffin Floyd, Pittsburgh Baseball Now

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Baseball Now confirmed a report by the New York Post’s Jon Heyman that the Pirates signed free agent catcher Austin Hedges to a one-year deal worth $5 million.

The Pirates had just one catcher with big league experience, Tyler Heineman, on their 40-man roster. Hedges will help bridge the gap while highly-touted catching prospect Endy Rodriguez works through the minors.

Hedges, 30, is an eight-year MLB veteran who played 105 games for the Guardians in 2022, slashing .163/.241/.248 with seven home runs. Despite the poor offensive numbers, Hedges called pitches for some of the best arms in Major League Baseball, helping the Guardians to a third-best 2.65 team ERA.

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