Matheny opts for Giants, signs three-year contract

SAN FRANCISCO -- The San Francisco Giants and catcher Mike Matheny agreed to a $10.5 million three-year contract Monday, the latest move to upgrade the team's defense.

Matheny, who won his third Gold Glove award last season, joins nine-time Gold Glove shortstop Omar Vizquel, who signed a $12.25 million, three-year contract with the Giants last month.

San Francisco also signed closer Armando Benitez to a $21.5 million, three-year contract last month.

The latest acquisition probably means the end of A.J. Pierzynski's tenure in San Francisco. Acquired in a trade last year from Minnesota, Pierzynski is eligible for salary arbitration.

With backup Yorvit Torrealba already on the roster, the Giants are unlikely to offer Pierzynski arbitration by a Dec. 20 deadline and will likely let him leave as a non-tendered free agent.

Pierzynski batted .272 with 11 homers and 77 RBIs in his only season in San Francisco but is not nearly as good a defensive player as Matheny.

Matheny, who didn't make any errors in 2003, led all NL catchers with a .999 fielding percentage this year, making just one error in 801 total chances. He threw out 28.4 percent of potential base stealers last year -- good for fourth in the NL -- and has thrown out 32 percent in his career.

Matheny has spent the past five seasons with St. Louis, where he hit .247 with five homers and 50 RBIs last season and helped the Cardinals reach the World Series.

Matheny, 34, is a .239 career hitter with 51 homers and 366 RBIs in 11 seasons for Milwaukee, Toronto and St. Louis.

Like the Giants' other free-agents signings this offseason, Matheny's contract is backloaded, giving the team short-term flexibility.

He will make $1 million in 2005, $2.25 million in 2006 and $2.25 million in 2007. The club has a $4 million option for 2008 with a $2 million buyout.

Matheny also receives a $3 million signing bonus with $500,000 payable in 2005, $1 million in 2006 and $1.5 million in 2007.