For the second year in a row, the Pirates are signing a defensive-minded catcher away from Cleveland.
Per source, the club is in agreement for a one-year, $5 million deal with Austin Hedges. The deal is pending a physical.
Hedges, 30, leads all catchers in defensive runs saved since his debut in 2015 (75). His eight defensive runs saved ranked eighth among all catchers last year, which included saving an estimated 4.4 runs via pitch framing and throwing out 22% of potential base stealers (13 out of 60).
His high level defense comes with offensive struggles, though.