Pirates' Barajas Open to Pay Cut to Stay in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Rod Barajas is willing to take less money to stay in Pittsburgh next season if the club declines his option, reports Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

Catcher Rod Barajas is open to re-signing with the Pirates for less money if the club does not pick up his $3.5 million contract option for 2013.

"I would like to be back here," Barajas said. "If that means we have to try to figure something out, then absolutely."

The 37-year-old Barajas, whose option for next season does not include a buyout, is earning $4 million this year. The Pirates have not approached Barajas yet about his option and GM Neal Huntington said the team is unwilling to commit to anything at the moment.

The Pirates' pitching staff owns a 3.59 ERA with the veteran catcher behind the plate, but Barajas has caught only six percent of base-stealers in sixty-five attempts. Barajas has also struggled with the bat this year, hitting just .197/.269/.324 with nine home runs in ninety-three games on the season.

Because of his offensive woes, Barajas has seen much of his playing time go to the much younger and more offensively adept Michael McKenry over the past few months.