BOSTON -- Jacoby Ellsbury went to the New York Yankees. Jarrod Saltalamacchia is gone, too. The Boston Red Sox began rebuilding for their World Series title defence Wednesday when they signed free agent catcher A.J. Pierzynski to a one-year contract. "Its not every day you get a chance to play for the defending World Series champions. Looking at what they have coming back, theres definitely a chance to do it again," Pierzynski said in a conference call with reporters. "It was a place that you always want to go to because they win and they try to win every year. When they called, it was hard to say no." A two-time All-Star, Pierzynski will take over for the switch-hitting Saltalamacchia, who agreed to a three-year, $21 million deal with the Miami Marlins on Tuesday at about the same time the Yankees pried Ellsbury away from their rivals with a seven-year, $153 million contract. "We wish Jacoby well," general manager Ben Cherington said. "He was obviously a real good player here. He was a big part of two World Series teams and we would have loved to keep him. But we felt that there was an area or range that we were willing to go to, and the market just went past that." The best candidate to replace Ellsbury in the Red Sox system is Jackie Bradley Jr., who batted .189 in 37 games in the majors last year and .275 with 10 homers in 80 games at Triple-A Pawtucket. Cherington said it was too early to say whether there would be other candidates brought in through free agency or trade. "We feel good about some of the in-house alternatives, and one of those is certainly Jackie Bradley," Cherington said. "We feel fortunate that Jackie is in our organization, and we will feel good that he is playing centre field, if thats the way it works out." Pierzynski, who has played for four teams over parts of 16 seasons, said he talked to several former teammates who were on the Red Sox this year, including David Ortiz, Matt Thornton and Jake Peavy. He also bumped into Mark Kotsay while on vacation in Hawaii. "They all said, If you get an opportunity to come, youve got to take it," Pierzynski said. "Every person I talked to has had a positive experience there. I was grateful that Ben reached out and gave me an opportunity." Saltalamacchia had been a solid catcher in Boston. But his last play in a Red Sox uniform was the ill-advised throw to third base that led to the obstruction call against Will Middlebrooks, which gave the St. Louis Cardinals a victory in Game 3 of the World Series. David Ross took over, and the Red Sox went on to win the Series in six games -- their third title in 10 years. Both catchers were also a big part of the clubhouse chemistry that was helped erase the stigma of the fried chicken and beer collapse of 2011. Pierzynski has a mixed reputation in baseball -- including a conflict with Peavy that the two say is long behind them -- but his own teammates usually defend him. "(He has) the reputation across the field of not being the best guy," Boston manager John Farrell said on WEEI-AM. "But there are guys you get that feel from across the field and then when they get in your dugout, you love him. He was on board with everything. The bottom line is he wants to do nothing more than one thing: win." Pierzynski, a left-handed hitter, and Ross, a righty, will both be 37 next season. The Red Sox have two catching prospects in the minor leagues, Christian Vazquez in Triple-A and Blake Swihart in Single-A. "What were looking at is a short-term situation that really points toward Vazquez and Swihart, that are coming," Farrell said. "That doesnt mean that in 2015 Vazquez is a starter, but it gives us the flexibility that if he makes another good step in the minors the next year, its the potential that a guy could step in." Cherington also said his goal was to make the 2014 team stronger without hindering flexibility in the future, an outlook that made a one-year deal for a veteran catcher more attractive than the three years Saltalamacchia got. "We really appreciate everything he did," Cherington said. "If reports are accurate, were happy for him that he gets a good deal. We wish him well, but we feel like A.J. is the right fit for us right now." Pierzynski batted .272 with 17 homers and 70 RBIs last season with Texas -- the 13th season in a row in which hes caught at least 110 games. In his career with the Twins, Giants, White Sox and Rangers, Pierzynski is a .283 hitter with 172 homers and 800 RBIs, with a .322 average in 33 games at Fenway Park. "The combination of A.J. and Ross will allow that to be a position of strength for us, as it was this year," Cherington said. Pierzynski has caught two no-hitters, including Philip Humbers perfect game April 21, 2012. He made the All-Star Game in 2002 and 06 and won the World Series with the White Sox in 2005. He has a .300 career average with five homers and 17 RBIs in the post-season. Air Max 200 Herren . Patrik Bartosak turned away 50-of-52 shots for the Rebels (28-26-4), who halted their losing streak at seven games. Trailing 2-1 after 40 minutes of play, Feser forced overtime with his second goal of the game at 5:35 of the third period. Vapormax Damen Günstig Kaufen .Martin Caceres marked his return from injury by scoring in the 3-1 win at Napoli and he believes Juventus sent out a warning to the rest of the league with that result.We go out on the pitch every game looking to give our all, Caceres said. http://www.vapormaxkaufenschweiz.com/vap...en-schweiz.html. Founding members of the Genie Army, a group of Eugenie Bouchard supporters who cheered for the rising tennis star during the Australian Open in January, will be in the city for the Rogers Cup, beginning this weekend. Nike Vapormax Herren Schweiz . In this weeks Leaf Report podcast, James Mirtle and Jonas Siegel debate whether Toronto can continue their shootout dominance and discuss what Dave Nonis game plan should be heading into the trade deadline. Vapormax Kaufen Schweiz .C. -- Duke sophomore Rodney Hood is entering the NBA draft.BOSTON -- Hours after a devastating blow to the Los Angeles rotation, the Angels were reassured and relieved by rookie starter Matt Shoemaker. Shoemaker threw 6 2-3 inning of no-hit ball and the Angels held on for a 2-0 victory against the Boston Red Sox on Thursday night, completing a four-game sweep and taking a two-game lead in the AL West. "I didnt even really know or think about it until about the fifth or sixth," Shoemaker said. "It was just one of those things -- work and focus on pitches, whos coming up and then you realize where they are in the order." The only hit Shoemaker (12-4) allowed was a double to Will Middlebrooks with two outs in the seventh. It was the only hit Boston got all night and welcome timing for the Angels, whose bullpen was weary with a cross-country flight ahead and huge series opening at Oakland on Friday. The Angels were also dealing with confirmation that Garrett Richards (13-4) is out for the season with a knee injury that occurred Wednesday while covering first on a potential double play. "I think its really uplifting. I think its important. Theres going to be a lot of attention on our rotation obviously with Garrett not going to be part of it," manager Mike Scioscia said. "You cant say enough about what Matty did tonight." Shoemaker struck out nine before a two-out walk to Mookie Betts in the eighth ended his night. It was the only walk for Shoemaker, who struck out nine. Jason Grilli pitched the ninth for his 12th save of the season and first with the Angels since coming to Los Angeles in a deal with Pittsburgh on June 27. The Angels have won four straight and eight of nine, taking a two-game lead over the As into this weekends series at Oakland. Josh Hamilton hit an RBI double in the first and Kole Calhoun hit a sacrifice fly in the seventh for Los Angeles only other run. It was all the offence the Angels needed. Shoemaker said he was thinking about Richards (13-5) as he warmed up Thursday. "Up until gametime, it was really heavy on my mind. During the game, I was trying to focus on pitching which I think was good thing because thats what G does," he said. "Its a detrimental loss to us but were all going to fight hard to pick him up and were just going to keep getting stronger from it.dddddddddddd" Rubby De La Rosa (4-5) pitched 6 2-3 innings, allowing two runs eight hits and getting himself out of a couple of jams as he tied his career high with eight strikeouts. Boston was able to cut off potential rallies for the Angels in the first and seventh, holding them to run in each and staying within reach throughout Shoemakers no-hit bid. "We couldnt get anything going against him. Hes been very consistent for them," Boston manager John Farrell said. CRUISING After hitting Boston leadoff batter Brock Holt, Shoemaker retired 20 straight before facing Middlebrooks with two outs in the seventh. Shoemaker is the first Angels rookie with 12 wins since Ervin Santana went 12-8 in 2005. EARLY NIGHT Angels 1B Albert Pujols was thrown out in the sixth after striking out and getting all the way back to the dugout. Scioscia said he hadnt heard Pujols say anything worthy of getting tossed and went to the plate to argue with umpire Andy Fletcher, who tossed the Los Angeles manager, too. TRAINING ROOM Angels: The Angels announced after the game that Richards will have surgery on Friday. The Angels selected the contract of left-hander Wade LeBlanc, from Triple-A Salt Lake and placed Richards on the 60-day DL to make room on the 40-man roster. Red Sox: LF Yoenis Cespedes left the game after three innings for an undisclosed personal reason, the Red Sox said. Manager John Farrell said after the game that it was a family emergency, but could not elaborate. Boston activated Allen Craig (sprained left foot) from the 15-day disabled list and started him at 1B Thursday night. UP NEXT Angels: LHP Hector Santiago (3-7, 3.46 ERA) gets the start in the AL West showdown as the Angels open a weekend series at second-place Oakland. Red Sox: RHP Joe Kelly (0-1, 5.2 9) tries again in his second start at Fenway Park as a member of the Red Sox when they open a weekend series against Seattle. Kelly was tagged for seven run on seven hits in four innings Sunday in a loss to the Houston Astros. ' ' '