Mike Piazza signs with San Diego - The Orange Mane

Bronco LB 59 · 01-29-2006, 09:50 PM

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2311295

Updated: Jan. 29, 2006, 11:09 PM ET
Piazza agrees to one-year, $2M deal with PadresAssociated Press

SAN DIEGO -- All-Star catcher Mike Piazza agreed Sunday to a $2 million, one-year free agent contract with the San Diego Padres, giving the defending NL West champions a marquee player they think can still contribute.

Piazza, 37, had considered joining an AL team as a designated hitter, but instead will return to the West Coast for the first time since the Los Angeles Dodgers traded him to Florida in 1998.

The 12-time All-Star holds the major league record for most career home runs by a catcher (374). He has 397 homers overall, and is a career .311 hitter.

The deal is expected to be announced on Monday. Piazza gets a $1.25 million salary this year, and the contract includes a mutual option for 2007 at $8 million with a $750,000 buyout. He can earn an additional $750,000 this year in performance bonuses.

"The Padres told Mike that he could pretty much catch as much as he wanted to," said Piazza's agent, Dan Lozano.

Piazza is hoping to catch about 90-100 games this season, along with playing some first base and being the DH in interleague games.

Piazza became a free agent after last season, when he hit .251 with 19 homers and 62 RBI in 113 games for the New York Mets. It was his lowest batting average since he hit .232 in 69 at-bats with the Dodgers in 1992, his first season in the big leagues.

Still, his 19 homers would have led the power-poor Padres. Ryan Klesko hit 18 for San Diego, which struggled to the division title before being swept out of the playoffs by the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Padres got into the Piazza mix in December, around the time of the winter meetings. They held off making a firm offer because there was talk Piazza might have been headed for the New York Yankees, who have Bernie Williams and other players as possible DHs.

The Padres made the offer Saturday night and Piazza accepted on Sunday.

Piazza reportedly had also considered playing for the Phillies. He grew up near Philadelphia.

Padres general manager Kevin Towers wasn't available for comment Sunday.

Speaking last Friday, Towers said Piazza wanted to play "with a competitive team in a desirable city. I think that his experience when he was with L.A. was a good one. He's very popular out here and is familiar with the area. We'd like to think San Diego is a desirable city and that we're a competitive ballclub."

Piazza was slowed by injuries the past three years and has long had trouble throwing.

He was acquired by the Mets in a trade with Florida in May 1998, eight days after he was shipped from the Dodgers to the Marlins in a blockbuster deal that also included Gary Sheffield, Bobby Bonilla, Charles Johnson and Todd Zeile.

Piazza led the Mets to the 2000 World Series, which they lost to the crosstown rival Yankees.

The Padres will have to move a player off their 40-man roster before signing Piazza.

San Diego obtained catcher Doug Mirabelli from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for second baseman Mark Loretta in December.

Pendejo · 01-29-2006, 10:58 PM

Why not? Certainly can't hurt.

B-Love · 01-29-2006, 11:43 PM

Piazza is going to a park where Power numbers are hard to come by. And he's below average at his throwing game and defensive game at this point.

Brian Giles suffered the Offensive numbers curse last year at that spacious stadium, though was still a nice ballplayer( love Giles).

Piazza did milk alot of power numbers out of Shea Stadium, which is not a hitters park either. And he also does get to the power alleys for a lot of 2 baggers.

Mike is a consumate great guy and I hope he gets what he's looking for in San Diego.

Lidderer · 01-30-2006, 12:24 AM

god i hate the padres. this signing cannot compete with matt morris.

Bronco LB 59 · 01-30-2006, 02:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-Love

Piazza is going to a park where Power numbers are hard to come by. And he's below average at his throwing game and defensive game at this point.

Brian Giles suffered the Offensive numbers curse last year at that spacious stadium, though was still a nice ballplayer( love Giles).

Piazza did milk alot of power numbers out of Shea Stadium, which is not a hitters park either. And he also does get to the power alleys for a lot of 2 baggers.

Mike is a consumate great guy and I hope he gets what he's looking for in San Diego.

That's an accurate accessment of this signing. I am a little shocked he signed with the Padres considering Philadelphia was his hometown and was one of the top ten home run parks in baseball.

Petco might be the most extreme hitters park in baseball, but I think right handed batters have a lot better chance to succeed compared to lefties who have to deal with the deep right-center alley.

Hogan11 · 01-30-2006, 07:31 AM

Sooooo, Piazza wanted to play "with a competitive team in a desirable city" and ended up with the Padres eh? Well, that's just wonderful.....the key term for this deal will be the "includes a mutual option for 2007 at $8 million with a $750,000 buyout" part.....no way he makes it to 2007 @ Petco.

It's sooo over Mike, it's not 1998 anymore. He was better off taking a DH job in the AL where he could play until he was 50 if he wanted to.....guess he couldn't find "a competitive AL team in a desirable city" willing enough to waste cash on him for gate.

01-29-2006, 09:50 PM	#1
Bronco LB 59 Ring of Famer Keep your head up dog Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Leucadia CA Posts: 6,068	Mike Piazza signs with San Diego http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2311295 Updated: Jan. 29, 2006, 11:09 PM ET Piazza agrees to one-year, $2M deal with PadresAssociated Press SAN DIEGO -- All-Star catcher Mike Piazza agreed Sunday to a $2 million, one-year free agent contract with the San Diego Padres, giving the defending NL West champions a marquee player they think can still contribute. Piazza, 37, had considered joining an AL team as a designated hitter, but instead will return to the West Coast for the first time since the Los Angeles Dodgers traded him to Florida in 1998. The 12-time All-Star holds the major league record for most career home runs by a catcher (374). He has 397 homers overall, and is a career .311 hitter. The deal is expected to be announced on Monday. Piazza gets a $1.25 million salary this year, and the contract includes a mutual option for 2007 at $8 million with a $750,000 buyout. He can earn an additional $750,000 this year in performance bonuses. "The Padres told Mike that he could pretty much catch as much as he wanted to," said Piazza's agent, Dan Lozano. Piazza is hoping to catch about 90-100 games this season, along with playing some first base and being the DH in interleague games. Piazza became a free agent after last season, when he hit .251 with 19 homers and 62 RBI in 113 games for the New York Mets. It was his lowest batting average since he hit .232 in 69 at-bats with the Dodgers in 1992, his first season in the big leagues. Still, his 19 homers would have led the power-poor Padres. Ryan Klesko hit 18 for San Diego, which struggled to the division title before being swept out of the playoffs by the St. Louis Cardinals. The Padres got into the Piazza mix in December, around the time of the winter meetings. They held off making a firm offer because there was talk Piazza might have been headed for the New York Yankees, who have Bernie Williams and other players as possible DHs. The Padres made the offer Saturday night and Piazza accepted on Sunday. Piazza reportedly had also considered playing for the Phillies. He grew up near Philadelphia. Padres general manager Kevin Towers wasn't available for comment Sunday. Speaking last Friday, Towers said Piazza wanted to play "with a competitive team in a desirable city. I think that his experience when he was with L.A. was a good one. He's very popular out here and is familiar with the area. We'd like to think San Diego is a desirable city and that we're a competitive ballclub." Piazza was slowed by injuries the past three years and has long had trouble throwing. He was acquired by the Mets in a trade with Florida in May 1998, eight days after he was shipped from the Dodgers to the Marlins in a blockbuster deal that also included Gary Sheffield, Bobby Bonilla, Charles Johnson and Todd Zeile. Piazza led the Mets to the 2000 World Series, which they lost to the crosstown rival Yankees. The Padres will have to move a player off their 40-man roster before signing Piazza. San Diego obtained catcher Doug Mirabelli from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for second baseman Mark Loretta in December.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

01-29-2006, 10:58 PM	#2
Pendejo The off-season. Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 2,948 Adopt-a-Bronco: "The Greek"	Why not? Certainly can't hurt.

01-29-2006, 11:43 PM	#3
B-Love Ring of Famer They're killin me Whitey, they're killin me!! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 4,266	Piazza is going to a park where Power numbers are hard to come by. And he's below average at his throwing game and defensive game at this point. Brian Giles suffered the Offensive numbers curse last year at that spacious stadium, though was still a nice ballplayer( love Giles). Piazza did milk alot of power numbers out of Shea Stadium, which is not a hitters park either. And he also does get to the power alleys for a lot of 2 baggers. Mike is a consumate great guy and I hope he gets what he's looking for in San Diego.

01-30-2006, 12:24 AM	#4
Lidderer & Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,780	god i hate the padres. this signing cannot compete with matt morris.

01-30-2006, 07:31 AM	#6
Hogan11 Rock-N-Roll Historian Let's take these SOB's out!!!!!! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: W.NY.B.C. Posts: 21,300 Adopt-a-Bronco: Floyd Little	Sooooo, Piazza wanted to play "with a competitive team in a desirable city" and ended up with the Padres eh? Well, that's just wonderful.....the key term for this deal will be the "includes a mutual option for 2007 at $8 million with a $750,000 buyout" part.....no way he makes it to 2007 @ Petco. It's sooo over Mike, it's not 1998 anymore. He was better off taking a DH job in the AL where he could play until he was 50 if he wanted to.....guess he couldn't find "a competitive AL team in a desirable city" willing enough to waste cash on him for gate.