MINNEAPOLIS -- The Twins added a veteran catcher on Thursday, signing Chris Gimenez to a Minor League deal with an invitation to Major League Spring Training.
Gimenez, 34, is the second backstop signed by the Twins this offseason, joining Jason Castro, who was inked to a three-year, $24.5 million deal in November. Both are known for their defense, game-calling and pitch-framing skills.
Gimenez has played in parts of eight seasons in the Majors with the Indians (2009-10, '14, '16), Mariners ('11), Rays ('12-13) and Rangers ('14-15). Chief baseball officer Derek Falvey and general manager Thad Levine are both familiar with Gimenez because of their time in the Indians' and Rangers' front offices, respectively.
Gimenez is a career .218/.297/.335 hitter with 15 homers and 66 RBIs in 289 games. He played in a career-high 68 games with Cleveland last year, batting .216/.272/.331 with four homers and 11 RBIs.
The Twins plan to essentially platoon their backup catcher with the left-handed-hitting Castro, and Gimenez has fared better against lefties, hitting .263/.358/.402 in his career.
Gimenez will compete for the backup role with John Ryan Murphy and prospect Mitch Garver. Both Murphy and Garver on the 40-man roster.