ATLANTA (AP) - A person with direct knowledge of the deal said the Atlanta Braves have reached an agreement on a one-year contract with catcher A.J. Pierzynski.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity Monday because the deal would not become official until after Pierzynski successfully completes a physical exam, scheduled for this week.
The 38-year-old Pierzynski likely will play behind 23-year-old Christian Bethancourt. Evan Gattis is expected to move from catcher to left field following the trade of Justin Upton to San Diego. That cleared a path for Bethancourt, one of the Braves' top prospects.
Pierzynski hit .259 with five homers and 37 RBI for the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox in 2014. He was released by the Red Sox on July 16 and signed as a free agent by St. Louis.