Rays finalize 1-year, $1.2M deal with Derek Norris

The Tampa Bay Rays added to their catching depth on Saturday by finalizing a one-year contract with free-agent backstop Derek Norris.

Norris will earn a base salary of $1.2 million in 2017, and could make another $800,000 in incentives, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.

The Rays will announce a corresponding move on the 40-man roster later Saturday.

Norris found himself unemployed last week after the Washington Nationals released him following the signing of Matt Wieters, who immediately usurped him as the team's starting catcher. Washington had traded for Norris, who spent 2016 with the San Diego Padres, earlier in the winter.

In Tampa Bay it's very likely he'll take over as the team's starting catcher going forward.

The Rays signed another former Nationals backstop, Wilson Ramos, to a two-year deal over the winter; Ramos is currently rehabbing a torn ACL, however, and isn't expected back until at least the middle of the season. Norris will step ahead of Curt Casali and Luke Maile on the depth chart, with one of those two working as his backup.

Norris, an All-Star with the Oakland Athletics in 2014, saw his slash line slump to a career-worst .186/.255/.328 with the Padres in 2016, though he did display some power by hitting 14 home runs. The 28-year-old has hit 54 home runs over his five-year career.