Mike Piazza: One More Year

Mike Piazza has his sights set on another season according to ESPN.com.

The power hitting righty will probably be best fit in the American League again, primarily being used as a DH. However, Piazza can also spend time at first and as the catcher.

ESPN.com reports that a team in Japan has tried to recruit Piazza but according to ESPN.com, his agent, Dan Lozano, stated that three teams have already "expressed an interest"about the 39 year old.

Piazza spent most of his career behind the dish but has limited experience at first base as well. His range and fielding ability sub par as he has limited range and looks a bit stiff in the field, but he can spell a first baseman for a day or be used as an emergency situation.

In 309 at bats last season Piazza batted .275, hammering out eight homers and driving in 44 RBI’s and a .313 OBP.

Piazza is a career .308 hitter with 427 homeruns.

Piazza started his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers back in 1992. The Florida Marlins acquired Piazza for five games before dealing him to the Mets where he played through the 2005 season.

Piazza played for the Padres in 2006 and moved to the American League last season with the Oakland Athletics.

While the three teams who have shown interest were not named, the best fits for the veteran seem to be with the Seattle Mariners, Tampa Bay Rays or Texas Rangers.

If Piazza were to go to play for the Rays he would probably take away the DH spot from Jonny Gomez and help out some of the younger players. Last season Gomes in 348 AB’s hit .244 with 17 homers and drove in 49, however has an alarming strikeout rate. Last season he struck out 126 times and in 1,110 AB’s, he has struck out 367 times which is in the ballpark of one in every three AB’s.

As far as the Rangers, their DH is 27 year old Jason Botts, who is really a left fielder. Last season, he played 28 games in left, 18 as a DH ad had two pinch hit appearances. In 167 AB’s he batted .240 with two homers and 14 RBI’s.

Lastly are the Mariners who could be looking for a solid bat to plug into their line-up card every day. The Mariners are playoff contenders, so Piazza may be intrigued to set up camp there.

Currently Jose Vidro is on the depth chart as the DH. Last season Vidro hit .314 with 6 homeruns. He did play a little first and second base as well as have some pinch hit appearance but was the DH in 122 of his 147 games played.

Piazza may not be quite a .300 hitter anymore but can still swing the bat and provide some extra power and fear to the Mariners line-up.

One way or another, it seems like Piazza won’t be hanging up his jersey just yet and seems that Piazza will be seen with his third team in three years and what would be his sixth team in his long illustrious career.