Diamondbacks announce deals with Nady, Blanco
The Arizona Diamondbacks announced Friday that they agreed to terms with outfielder Xavier Nady and catcher Henry Blanco.
Nady agreed to a one-year contract for $1.75 million and has the chance to earn $1 million in bonuses based on roster time. Blanco agreed to a one-year contract for a guaranteed $1.25 million, with a mutual option for 2012 ($1.15 million, with a $250,000 buyout).
Nady, 32, hit .256 with six home runs and 33 RBIs in 119 games for the Chicago Cubs last season. Over parts of nine seasons in the majors with the San Diego Padres, New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Yankees and Cubs, he has batted .277 with 93 home runs and 358 RBIs.
Last season, Nady rebounded to play 119 games after being limited to seven games with the Yankees in 2009 due to Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. He has played 571 career games in the outfield and compiled a .981 fielding percentage. He has also played 134 games at first base, including 52 last season in place of Derrek Lee, and compiled a .993 fielding percentage.
Nady is expected to play left field and some first base with the Diamondbacks.
Blanco, 39, hit .215 with two home runs and eight RBIs in 50 games for the New York Mets last season. Over parts of 13 seasons in the majors with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Colorado Rockies, Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta Braves, Minnesota Twins, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres and Mets, he has a .227 average with 60 home runs and 265 RBIs in 863 games.
Blanco ranks third among all active catchers with a 40.9 percent rate of throwing out would-be base stealers in his career. Since 2008, his .997 fielding percentage ranks second among all National League catchers.
Blanco is expected to back up starting catcher Miguel Montero.
In corresponding moves to make room on the 40-man roster, the Diamondbacks designated right-handed pitcher Roque Mercedes for assignment and placed infielder/outfielder Rusty Ryal on waivers.
