Carlos Ruiz re-signs with the Phillies

Carlos Ruiz, once thought to be a target for Ben Cherington, has re-upped with the Phillies, agreeing to a contract that will pay him ~$26-million across the life of the three-year deal.

Sep 14, 2013; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals pinch hitter Scott Hairston (7) is out at home plate as Philadelphia Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz (51) makes the tag in the seventh inning at Nationals Park. The Phillies defeated the Nationals 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

Ruiz’s deal runs through the 2016 season, with a club option for a fourth year valued at $4.5 million, with a $500K buyout tweets ESPN’s Jayson Stark. Ruiz also obtains limited no-trade protection with the ability to block deals to four unknown clubs.

Ruiz, 34, is a lifetime .274/.358/.412 hitter who saw his numbers slide in 2013 as he was hampered by a hamstring injury as well as being forced to sit out 25 games for an amphetamine violation. In 2013, Ruiz turned in a .268/.320/.368 line, indicative of his time out, but seemed to turn it on over the course of the final months of the season.

Ruiz’s deal is good news for A.J. Pierzynski and Jarrod Saltalamacchia, as it eclipses most projections made for Ruiz, and likely sets a higher bar for middle-tier catchers. With Ruiz off the market, Saltalamacchia may be Boston’s best option as far as shoring up their backstop for the coming years.