According to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal, the veteran catcher has reportedly agreed on a new deal with the Phils.ESPN's Jayson Stark noted that the World Series champion Boston Red Sox were interested in the 34-year-old, but Ruben Amaro Jr. and the front office made sure they brought back the fan favorite:
Per the Philadelphia Inquirer's Matt Gelb, the deal, pending a physical, will pay Ruiz $8.5 million per season from 2014 to 2016. There is also a team option worth $4.5 million in 2017.
The Phillies wanted a right-handed hitter behind the plate, according to Gelb. They also preferred Ruiz over more expensive free agents such as Brian McCann and Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
Ruiz established himself as one of the best-hitting catchers in the majors from 2010 to 2012, hitting .303/.388/.454 and receiving MVP votes during each campaign. Moreover, in 2012, he was named an All-Star.
2013 was a different story, though, as the soon-to-be 35-year-old hit just .268/.320/.368 with five home runs in a season marred by a trip to the DL and a 25-game suspension for unauthorized Adderall use.
Still, Ruiz is a good hitter and an above-average defender, and he has a strong relationship with the pitching staff. As Gelb points out, he will also be crucial in the development of Cuban defect Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, who is expected to make his MLB debut in 2014.
Throw in the fact that Ruiz is well liked in Philadelphia, a veteran presence in the clubhouse and doing it all at a scarce position, and it's not difficult to see his value.
Whether or not he rebounds from an inconsistent 2013 will help determine if the Phillies overpaid, but only time will answer that question.
