The Rays are finalizing a deal to sign free agent catcher Derek Norris, according to a report from the Tampa Bay Times. A Major League source told MLB.com that a deal is not done but "very likely." The club has not confirmed the deal.
Tampa Bay signed free agent Wilson Ramos in December to be its primary catcher, but Ramos is projected to be out until at least the middle of the 2017 season as he recovers from a torn right ACL he suffered last September. Signing Norris would give the Rays a veteran backstop to fill in the gap until Ramos' return.