On Wednesday the Boston Red Sox designated veteran catcher A.J. Pierzysnki for assignment.
Last in the AL East, the Red Sox are 10.5 games behind division leading Baltimore.
With Pierzynski being designated for assignment the Red Sox have called up Christian Vazquez.
“It’s an opportunity for us to invest in players who we feel are going to be here beyond 2014,” said manager John Farrell. “While there may be other decisions that are forthcoming, we felt like the place we were going to start with was behind the plate. That brings Christian to us — a guy that we are high on [for] his abilities, particularly as a defender, the ability to shut down the running game and someone who continues to develop as an offensive player.”
The Red Sox roster is slowly being turned over with youngsters Xander Bogaerts, Jackie Bradley Jr., Mookie Betts and Rubby De La Rosa all seeing playing time now.
Signed to a one-year deal to replace Jarrod Saltalamacchia the 37-year-old Pierzynski was hitting .254 with four home runs and 31 RBI.
