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The Texas Rangers and A.J. Pierzynski came to terms on a one year, $7.5 million contract on Wednesday, and the catcher claims that he has gotten over being snubbed for an All-Star spot by his new manager, Ron Washington:
"It came up (at the lunch), and I made a joke of it," Pierzynski said on a conference call with reporters on Wednesday. "It was over as soon as it happened. You're disappointed as a player because you want to go to the All-Star Game and be honored that way. But when it was over, it was over."
Washington, who has managed the past two American League All-Star teams, is responsible for filling out the roster after the starters have been named. When asked about it, Washington said the episode was "old news," and that he was happy to have Pierzynski on the Rangers.
Pierzynski is a 15-year MLB veteran, and spent the past eight seasons with the White Sox. He set career highs with 27 home runs and 77 RBIs in 2012. Washington has already named him the Rangers' starting catcher ahead of the 2013 season. The Rangers' catcher last season, Mike Napoli, signed with the Red Sox as a free agent earlier this offseason.
Tyler Flowers is expected to have a shot to take the catching job for the White Sox in spring training.