Angels Agree to Terms with Catcher Geovany Soto

The Angels today agreed to terms on a one-year contract with catcher Geovany Soto. Today's announcement was made by Angels General Manager Billy Eppler.

Soto, 32, spent the 2015 campaign with the Chicago White Sox, posting a .219 (41/187) average with 20 runs scored, nine home runs and 21 RBI in 78 games. Soto appeared in 73 games behind the plate for Chicago, boasting a .988 fielding percentage while throwing out 30% of would-be base stealers.

An 11-year Major League veteran, Soto has played with four different Clubs during his career: Cubs (2005-12), Rangers (2012-14), Athletics (2014) and White Sox (2015). The former All-Star and 2008 N.L. Rookie of the Year comes to the Angels with a career .246 (590/2402) average with 141 doubles, four triples, 101 home runs and 343 RBI across 758 games. Defensively since his rookie campaign in 2008, Soto's 27.4% caught stealing percentage ranks fourth by a Major League backstop (min. 700 G), trailing only Yadier Molina, Russell Martin and Miguel Montero.

The 6-1, 235-pound Soto was originally selected by Chicago Cubs in the 11th round of the 2001 First Year Player Draft before making his big league debut with the Cubs in 2005.