John Matthews
WMAL.com
WEST PALM BEACH, FL — (WMAL) The Washington Nationals have a new starting catcher – one who won’t have to move very far.
Matt Wieters, a four-time All Star as a Baltimore Oriole, moves down I-95 after signing a two-year, $21 million deal with Washington.
The Nationals were looking for a starting catcher after losing Wilson Ramos to free agency, and Wieters is a natural fit. His agent, Scott Boras, already represents several Nationals, including Stephen Strasburg, Bryce Harper, Jayson Werth, Anthony Rendon and Stephen Drew.
Wieters batted 243/.302/.409 with 17 home runs and 66 RBI over 124 games last season, and ended his Orioles regular season career with flair – homering from both sides of the plate in the final game of the season to help Baltimore clinch a wild card berth.
As a catcher, Wieters is a two-time Gold Glove winner. He threw out 35 percent of the runners who tried to steal on him last year.
Wieters, 30, was drafted fifth overall by the Orioles in 2007, and has 117 career home runs, with 437 RBIs and a .256 career batting average.
Copyright 2017 by WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved. (PHOTO: Associated Press)
