Rays bring back Zunino on reported 1-year, $3M deal

The Tampa Bay Rays have re-signed catcher Mike Zunino, the club announced Wednesday.

Zunino's contract is for one year and includes an option for 2022, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.

The deal reportedly guarantees Zunino $3 million. His 2021 salary is $2 million with a team option worth between $4 million and $7 million based on playing time that includes a $1-million buyout, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

Zunino, 29, has spent the past two seasons with the organization, posting a .556 OPS with 13 homers in 118 games played. Over 19 postseason games en route to an AL pennant, Zunino tallied four homers, slugging .396, but still struggled to get on base with a .196 OBP.

Primarily employed for his work behind the plate, Zunino has been worth 14.4 runs on defense, according to FanGraphs.

A former first-round pick of the Seattle Mariners, Zunino owns a career .200/.270/.394 slash line over eight seasons, hitting 108 home runs.

Zunino is likely the starting catcher for the Rays, ahead of prospect Ronaldo Hernandez on the depth chart, who ranks 12th in the team's system, according to MLB Pipeline. Hernandez has not played above High-A.