SPORTS

Brayan Pena agrees to $5M, 2-year deal with Cardinals

Enquirer and Associated Press report

Reds catcher Brayan Pena is forced out at third base against the Milwaukee Brewers during the second inning in game two of a doubleheader at Great American Ball Park.

ST. LOUIS — Free agent catcher Brayan Pena has agreed to a $5 million, two-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, where he will be the backup for All-Star Yadier Molina.

The 33-year-old switch-hitter receives $2.5 million in each of the next two seasons.

Pena sent of gratitude toward Reds fans and the organization via Twitter Monday afternoon.

Pena led Reds catchers with 86 games last season while batting .273 with a career-best .344 on-base percentage. His led the NL with a .999 fielding percentage, making one error in 715 chances.

Pena has a .260 career average, with 23 homers and 164 RBIs in 629 games over 11 big league seasons. He spent the last two years with the Reds and has played for Detroit, Kansas City and Atlanta.

Tony Cruz had been Molina's backup in recent seasons.