Reports: Rays agree to re-sign catcher Mike Zunino

Veteran catcher Mike Zunino isn't going anywhere. 

ESPN's Jeff Passan and MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand (h/t Juan Toribio) have both reported that the Tampa Bay Rays are signing Zunino to a one-year deal that includes a club option for 2022. 

Zunino, who turns 30 years old in March, will earn $2 million next season, and the option carries an extra $1 million in guaranteed money. In total, that option could be worth between $4-7 million depending on how much Zunino plays. 

Back in October, the Rays declined Zunino's option worth $4.5 million, and it was thought that another club could swoop in for his services because he's respected as one of the best defensive catchers in big-league baseball who was widely admired by Tampa Bay pitchers across his two seasons with the club. 

“We talk a lot about our pitchers for good reason, but I think you have to give Mike Zunino -- I know you have to give Mike Zunino -- a lot of credit for helping and navigating to have that type of success," Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said at that time, according to Toribio. 

Zunino struggled inside the batter's box during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, though, as he hit .147 with four home runs and 10 RBI in 28 games. As Toribio noted, though, Zunino was behind the plate for each of Tampa Bay's final 13 games of a memorable playoff run that ended with a World Series loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.