Rays sign ex-Jay Molina By QMI Agency

Catcher Jose Molina gestures on the field during a game against the Tigers in Detroit, Mich., June 27, 2011. (REBECCA COOK/Reuters)

The Tampa Bay Rays officially announced the signing Monday of free-agent catcher Jose Molina to a one-year contract.

Molina, 36, appeared in 55 games for the Toronto Blue Jays last season and hit .281 with three home runs and 15 RBI.

His biggest strength, though, is defence. Since 2008, Molina has been the majors' toughest catcher to steal against (minimum 200 games), nailing 62 of 170 runners (36.5%).

"Jose has been one of the best defensive catchers in baseball over the past decade, and his presence will bring even more stability to our defence, and he will, of course, be a great asset to our young pitchers," Rays vice-president Andrew Friedman said.

Toronto will get a pick between the first and second rounds at the 2012 draft for losing Molina, a Type B free agent.