Baltimore, MD (My Sportsbook) - The Baltimore Orioles signed veteran catcher Gregg Zaun to a one-year deal Thursday. As per team policy, financial terms were not released. Zaun played in 86 games for the Toronto Blue Jays last season and batted .237 with six homers and 30 runs batted in. He also threw out 12-of-52 attempted base stealers. The 37-year-old veteran was originally selected by the Orioles in the 17th round of the 1989 draft and made his big league debut with Baltimore in 1995. He will likely open the year as the team's starting catcher, but is being brought in to mentor prized catching prospect Matt Wieters, who the O's hope can join the big club at some point this season. Baltimore needed a catcher after dealing Ramon Hernandez to Cincinnati earlier this offseason. Zaun is a career .251 hitter with 78 home runs and 405 RBI over 14 seasons with Baltimore, Florida, Texas, Kansas City, Houston, Colorado and Toronto. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Orioles designated infielder Oscar Salazar for assignment. |
