Reds manager: Mesoraco to be used exclusively as catcher

The Cincinnati Reds appear intent to get every penny worth of the $28-million investment they made in catcher Devin Mesoraco from behind the plate.

Not following the lead of the San Francisco Giants - who deployed catcher Buster Posey at first base 35 times last season - Reds manager Bryan Price isn't planning to play Mesoraco anywhere but his primary position.

"I've been asked that question a lot about Mesoraco playing first base," Price told Hal McCoy of the Dayton Daily News. "How much would he play? Only if (Joey) Votto was injured. Realistically, I see him as a Yadier Molina type guy who is going to catch 145 games a year, more so than I see him catching 110 a year and playing 20 or 30 at first base."

Mesoraco, who agreed to a four-year deal  Monday, appeared in a career-high 114 games last season, hitting .273/.359/.534 with 25 home runs and 80 RBIs. He's never appeared at another position in 275 major league games.

Salvador Perez of the Kansas City Royals led the majors with 146 games caught in 2014. Only two players have caught at least 140 games in each of the last six seasons.