Full Count
A Furiously Updated Red Sox Blog
WEEI.com Blog Network
RSS
It’s official: Red Sox announce David Ross deal 11.14.12 at 9:40 pm ET
By Alex Speier

The Red Sox reached a two-year deal with catcher David Ross. (AP)

The Red Sox announced the signing of catcher David Ross to a two-year contract via press release on Wednesday night. Though terms of the contract were not disclosed, the deal is for a total of $6.2 million. (According to an industry source, the deal is a straightforward one, with Ross receiving $3.1 million salaries in both 2013 and 2014.) A few notable stats from the press release:

  • Atlanta went 54-35 (.607) in his 89 starts behind the plate over the last two seasons, the best winning percentage for any National League catcher with at least 65 starts in that time.  The only catcher in the Majors with a better record from 2011-12 was Mike Napoli (.618).
  • Over the last four seasons, Ross has led the majors with a 3.33 catcher’s ERA (min. 200 games), the best four-year stretch in the Major Leagues dating back to 1998.
  • He has thrown out 37.5 percent of attempted base stealers (99 of 264) over the last eight years, the second-best rate in the Majors after Yadier Molina’s 40.0 mark (min. 400 games).  In those eight seasons since 2005, he placed among the best National Leaguers in caught stealing percentage six times: 2005 (2nd, 53.8), 2006 (2nd, 41.4), 2007 (2nd, 39.0), 2009 (1st, 43.2), 2011 (4th, 31.2) and 2012 (3rd, 42.4).

Here is the complete release:

The Boston Red Sox today signed catcher David Ross to a two-year contract through the 2014 season.  The announcement was made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Ben Cherington.

Ross appeared in 62 games for the Atlanta Braves in 2012, including 47 starts behind the plate, in his fourth season with the organization and his 11th Major League campaign overall.  The 35-year-old threw out 42.4 percent of attempted base stealers (14 of 33), the fourth-best rate among Major League catchers with at least 40 games at the position.  A right-handed hitter, he batted .256 (45-for-176) with seven doubles, nine home runs, 23 RBI, 18 runs and 18 walks.  His average of a home run every 19.56 at-bats ranked third among National League catchers with at least 150 plate appearances, while five of his nine long balls either tied the game or put the Braves ahead.

Atlanta went 54-35 (.607) in his 89 starts behind the plate over the last two seasons, the best winning percentage for any National League catcher with at least 65 starts in that time.  The only catcher in the Majors with a better record from 2011-12 was Mike Napoli (.618).

Over the last four seasons, Ross has led the Majors with a 3.33 catcher’s ERA (min. 200 games), the best four-year stretch in the Major Leagues dating back to 1998.  He has thrown out 37.5 percent of attempted base stealers (99 of 264) over the last eight years, the second-best rate in the Majors after Yadier Molina’s 40.0 mark (min. 400 games).  In those eight seasons since 2005, he placed among the best National Leaguers in caught stealing percentage six times: 2005 (2nd, 53.8), 2006 (2nd, 41.4), 2007 (2nd, 39.0), 2009 (1st, 43.2), 2011 (4th, 31.2) and 2012 (3rd, 42.4).

Ross compiled a .269 average (155-for-577) with 36 doubles, two triples, 24 homers and 94 RBI in 227 games with Atlanta from 2009-12, and his .463 slugging percentage in those four campaigns was second among National League catchers (min. 600 PA) to Buster Posey (.503).  He also placed fourth in that group in at-bats per home run (24.04), at-bats per RBI (6.14) and OPS (.816).  From 2006-07, he ranked second among National League catchers with 38 combined home runs for the Cincinnati Reds, including a career-high 21 shots in 2006.

He played in eight regular season games with Boston in September 2008 after signing with the club as a minor league free agent that August.  In 658 Major League games with the Los Angeles Dodgers (2002-04), Pittsburgh Pirates (2005), San Diego Padres (2005), Reds (2006-08), Red Sox (2008) and Braves (2009-12), he has hit .238 (405-for-1,701) with 89 doubles, five triples, 84 home runs, 248 RBI, 197 runs and 210 walks.  He was selected by the Dodgers in the seventh round of the 1998 First-Year Player Draft.

Ross has appeared in six career postseason contests, including one with the Red Sox in 2008.  He went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI as the Braves’ starting catcher in the 2012 National League Wild Card Game against the St. Louis Cardinals.

With the signing, the Red Sox 40-man roster is now at 39.

Print  |  Email  |  Bark It Up!  |  Digg It
  • pappi

    Wrong Ross

  • RobDX

    Chris price is currently in the Fetal position now.

  • fatchance

    unfortunately the downfall of a wealth of riches.

  • fatchance

    unfortunately the downfall of a wealth of riches.

  • Koby

    thanks for the memories Woody, we will miss ya

  • Koby

    thanks for the memories Woody, we will miss ya

  • guest

    so am I. and my youngest son. Welker and Woodhead – my 7 and 9 year olds’ favorite players…perfect. Thanks a ton Pats.

  • guest

    so am I. and my youngest son. Welker and Woodhead – my 7 and 9 year olds’ favorite players…perfect. Thanks a ton Pats.

  • http://www.facebook.com/russ.desrosiers Russ Desrosiers

    Danny, we will miss you…………………100% effort on every play! Bill, what the hell are you doing??? This hurts me more than losing Welker.

  • Anonymous

    It’s Shane Vereen time! Enjoy SD Mr Woodcock…

  • ehhhh

    bye woodcock

  • Bruinman86

    The Kid was breath of fresh air in what could be a stagnant running game at times. Best of luck playing with Philip Rivers.

  • DAS330

    WTF????

  • TheseGuysAreRidiculous

    Guest, they were your kids favorite player? NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

  • Former Pats fan

    I do not know what Belichick is doing, but it appears that he is ruining his team, with the release of Wes Welker and Danny Woodhead.

    Please note that this long-time Patriots fan will look elsewhere for a team to root for.

    EG

  • EG

    Very, very poor judgment on the part of Belichick and company: no respect for how talented and dedicated Welker and Woodhead were. They were also great fun to watch.

  • Bob

    At least the Patriots were able to sign Arrington…Now we can at least keep our pass interference number up…!

  • natedizel

    After you see what Vereen and Bolden can do you will be a pats fan again.

  • jj

    Why is everyone so uptight? We enjoyed watching Welker and Woodhead, but the team is obviously missing something in winning a Superbowl and trying to go that route. You will all be cheering them on in the playoffs next year, don’t worry.

  • Mainah

    What a bunch of band wagoners you guys are. It is a business deal, come on. Saying I won’t root for my favorite TEAM because of 2 guys is ridiculous.

  • http://www.facebook.com/robby.clewley Robby Clewley

    Two of my fav pats players gone in a few days . Thx for the memories Danny

  • Marfons

    Kids gotta learn about life at some point

  • Boring Media Hype

    Another smurf gone…..BB might actually be starting to build a big man football team…it’s about time

  • Current Pats Fan

    Hey moron, they weren’t RELEASED!
    You would think a “long-time” fan would know that.

  • relax

    Must be youngster. Team evolves all the time yet always in hunt for Super Bowl

  • Steve

    What the heck is Belichick doing? Apparently loyalty and hard work count for absolutely nothing down in Foxborough. And signing other teams’ damaged or spent cast-offs in replacement? Guess Coach and Owner are telling us fans to forget about getting emotionally invested in the Pats….hope they get what they’re asking for….

  • Gray

    sigh bill what are you doing

  • Mal Tempo

    Belichick wants to get rid of anyone whose last name begins with ‘W’.

  • StupidNewEnglandFans

    Don’t embarrass yourself. If you’re changing team loyalties because Danny Woodhead wasn’t retained and Wes Welker left (HE chose to leave, btw) then you were never a true Pats fan to begin with.

  • fab4ever

    Stop it..just get a grip…it’ll all work out…

  • http://www.facebook.com/sean.kelly.9210 Sean Kelly

    a shame he’s gone. He exemplfies all the right qualities of a Patriot- determined, hard nosed, reliable worker. Was hoping he could fit in the offense somehow. Good luck, Danny!

  • bench warmer

    krafty and bill a bong will do anything to sell a jersey.

  • brandonruns

    FWIW, it’s starting to come out that Amendola was signed before the Welker negotiations were completed. Sounds like he tried to make it work, but the Pats weren’t willing.

  • Megan

    Woody you rock! YOU WILL BE MISSED!!!

  • Anonymous

    Loved Danny, but he is replaceable unlike another guy who just left…

  • munro

    You mean the kid’s gotta learn about greed at some point.

  • drew179

    I loved what Woodhead brought to this team. The Pats have depth at RB. They need help on DEFENSE. Their problem, as long as Brady is there, will never be scoring points. The years they won the Bowl was because the defense stepped up.

  • Fan since ’74

    Really ???? I don’t recall seeing either of these guys wearing any Patriots Super Bowl rings. Did you bail on the team when Ty Law left when Milloy was released or Seymour was traded? What about not signing Vrabel? Hey, Beldsoe was pretty good for a while and Belichick gave his job to some 6th round draft pick sitting on the bench – what a incompetent. Ok, sorry about the sarcasm.

    I was fans of both guys as well, but this is part of the NFL. Welker’s now on his fourth team and Woodhead is on his third.

  • Jim

    Woodhead had a lions heart,;.. undersized, tough the underdog that proved he could play, Best of Luck !!! A lot of Pats Fans will miss you.

  • Jim

    Woodhead had a lions heart,;.. undersized, tough the underdog that proved he could play, Best of Luck !!! A lot of Pats Fans will miss you.

  • Joe 222

    Welker is on his third team and so is danny. ……. ^^^!some pats fan huh

Red Sox Box Score
Red Sox Schedule
Baseball Analytics Blog
Red Sox Headlines
Red Sox Minor League News
Red Sox Team Leaders
MLB Headlines
Tips & Feedback

Verify