MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Twins have found a replacement for Joe Mauer at catcher. The Twins and catcher Kurt Suzuki agreed to a $2.75 million, one-year contract on Friday, a person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because Suzuki has to pass a physical before the contract can be signed. Minnesota was in the market for a veteran catcher after announcing last month that Mauer was moving to first base. It was a difficult decision for Mauer, the two-time AL batting champion who always has felt his value to the team was highest when he was catching. But a concussion from a batted ball deflecting off his head on Aug. 19 ended his season and ultimately is what convinced Mauer to relent. The Twins had an opening at first base after trading Justin Morneau to Pittsburgh, so Mauer will take over for his long-time friend as the full-time first baseman. Once that decision was made, the Twins went into the free-agent market looking for a veteran who could handle a revamped pitching staff and give them some production at the plate. They had conversations with A.J. Pierzynski and Jarrod Saltalamacchia, but both chose to sign elsewhere. Thats when the Twins turned their attention to Suzuki, who hit .232 with five homers and 32 RBIs for the Washington Nationals and Oakland Athletics last season. Hell be counted on to help integrate newcomers Ricky Nolasco and Phil Hughes to the starting rotation and bring along younger pitchers like Kyle Gibson and Alex Meyer. The 30-year-old Suzuki will also be tasked with mentoring prospect Josmil Pinto, who filled in nicely for Mauer at the end of last season. Pinto hit .342 with four homers in 21 games last season. But the 24-year-old Venezuelan has a long way to go when it comes to defence and calling a game, so Suzuki and bench coach Terry Steinbach will be there to help him along. Suzuki only threw out 12 per cent of base stealers last season, but has thrown out 26 per cent in his big league career. Stitched Rockies Jerseys . Ashton scored a hat trick -- giving him 13 goals in 16 AHL games this season -- to power the Toronto Marlies to a 5-2 victory over the visiting Lake Erie Monsters in AHL action on Sunday. Colorado Rockies Store . Not sure yet. #livetweetingthegreatuntangle — Strombone (@strombone1) April 17, 2014 Stage three, coping: I feel like I could use a cigarette or something. https://www.cheaprockiesjerseys.us/.com) - Many people at Eastern Washington are waiting to see if star quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. Colorado Rockies Gear . -- Ryan Gropp scored in overtime as the Seattle Thunderbirds shut out the Spokane Chiefs 1-0 in Western Hockey League play Tuesday. Rockies Jerseys 2019 . Cruz set the tone with a two-run homer in the first inning, and Baltimore scored eight times in the eighth to pull away for a 12-3 victory in Game 1. The major league leader with 40 homers during the regular season, Cruz added an RBI single to his early blast off Max Scherzer.ARLINGTON, Texas -- Texas Rangers reliever Tanner Scheppers is going back on the disabled list because of right elbow inflammation less than a week after a return from the same problem. Scheppers, who became a starter in the spring and got the opening day nod because of an injury to Yu Darvish, went back to the bullpen when he returned and made four aappearances in six games.dddddddddddd The 27-year-old Scheppers missed a month and a half with the original elbow problem after making four starts. He is 0-1 with 9.00 ERA. Its the 20th DL move for the injury-riddled Rangers this season. Texas brought up right-hander Ben Rowen from Triple-A Round Rock. He has yet to appear in the majors. ' ' '