PHILADELPHIA - A person familiar with the negotiations says catcher Carlos Ruiz and the Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to an $8.85 million, three-year contract that avoids salary arbitration.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Monday because the team had not yet announced the deal. The contract includes a $5 million club option for 2013 with a $500,000 buyout.
Ruiz batted .255 with 43 RBIs and a career-high nine homers last season. He has a .303 postseason average after starting every Phillies playoff game the last two years for a team that reached the World Series twice, winning in 2008.
Ruiz was the last Philadelphia player in arbitration. His deal was first reported by MLB.com.
