Major League Baseball

Source: Mets, Barajas agree on 1-year deal

Published Feb. 20, 2010 12:00 a.m. ET

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Ken Rosenthal

Free-agent catcher Rod Barajas reached agreement Saturday on a one-year, $1 million contract with the Mets, according to a major-league source.

The deal also includes $1 million in easily attainable incentives, the source said.

Both the Mets and Rangers had extended minor-league proposals to Barajas, and the Rangers’ initial bid was $1.5 million, according to sources.

The Mets, however, upgraded their bid to a major-league offer on Friday, ensuring that Barajas’ money would be guaranteed.

Barajas, 34, figures to emerge as the Mets’ starting catcher. The team’s other catchers – Henry Blanco, Omir Santos, Chris Coste and Josh Thole – are all either backups or unproven.

The Blue Jays will directly benefit from Barajas signing a major- league deal, receiving a supplemental draft choice between the first and second rounds.

The Jays offered salary arbitration to Barajas, a Type B free agent, and he declined. The team would not have received a pick as compensation if he had signed a minor-league deal.

The Mets, meanwhile, will need to designate a player for assignment to make room for Barajas on their 40-man roster.

Barajas had 19 home runs and 71 RBIs last season in 460 plate appearances with the Jays last season. However, he batted only .226 with a .258 on-base percentage.

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