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Phils sign catcher Bako

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Phils sign catcher Bako

POSTED: Monday, May 18, 2009, 4:55 PM

This press release came my way just as I was boarding an airplane to Cincy. Not a move likely to impact the major league team, but this is why they call me the media (or medium, I guess):

Catcher Paul Bako agreed to a minor league contract with the Phillies, Assistant General Manager Scott Proefrock announced today.

Bako, 36, will report to extended spring training in Clearwater today until a schedule is set. He will then advance through the minor system when he is physically able to play. He began the 2009 season with the Chicago Cubs spring training camp before being released on March 30.

“Paul has a tremendous amount of major league experience and he gives us the opportunity to add greater catching depth to our system,” Proefrock said.

For his career, Bako has hit .231 with 21 home runs and 186 runs batted in over 745 major league games between the Tigers (1998), Astros (1999-2000), Marlins (2000), Braves (2000-01), Brewers (2002), Cubs (2003-04), Dodgers (2005), Royals (2006), Orioles (2007) and Reds (2008). He has thrown out 28% of potential base stealers for his career (155 out of 549).

Andy Martino @ 4:55 PM Permalink | 39 comments

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Comments (39)

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:36 PM, 05/18/2009

You're no Arbuckle, Proefrock. Way to land the big one! Maybe I'll add Bako to my fantasy team.

— JusWonderin

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:37 PM, 05/18/2009

What is the secret story behind why Ruben Amaro Jr. loves to sign crummy catchers to meaningless contracts? America demands an answer!

— Jeffrey

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:55 PM, 05/18/2009

What, why? Amaro is brutal.

— scars73

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:56 PM, 05/18/2009

Because the Phils minor league system is short on catchers. And considering your post, America would be better off demanding common sense - which, unfortunately, isn't very common, especially on the internet.

— judas_priest

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 6:00 PM, 05/18/2009

Thanks for the information.

— MooseBreathMints

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 6:13 PM, 05/18/2009

I don't think Amaro is doing his homework well enough. If he's really looking for organizational depth at catcher, check out this post from MLBRumors.com Tim Dierkes on May 6th: "Who wants a 27 year-old switch-hitting catcher who hit .303/.376/.462 at Triple A last year? No one, apparently. According to MLB.com's Dick Kaegel, Royals catcher Brayan Pena cleared waivers and was assigned to Triple A Omaha. This marks Pena's fifth trip to Triple A. In their 2007 Handbook, Baseball America suggested Pena's defense was at least decent. In a world of $2MM backup catchers, it's surprising Pena wasn't picked up."

— RAS

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 6:24 PM, 05/18/2009

Yawn.....I'm sleepy.

— psuwelsh

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 6:25 PM, 05/18/2009

Reading furhter into this, I guess we can assume that the Lou Marson/Chris Coste combination will be the right handed bat off the bench now that Cairo is history? A slight upgrade but not earth shattering. I'd still like to see Mayberry get a few rips up here.

— RAS

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 7:15 PM, 05/18/2009

We had plenty catching depth in the minor league system until Amaro shipped Jaramillo for Paulino and then Paulino for that lefty who most likely will be either release or send to the minor leagues. Bako?, you got to be kidding me. Maybe he can replace Ramon Henderson as our bullpen catcher.

— EL Zorro