The Seattle Mariners reached an agreement in principle with catcher John Baker on a minor league contract on Wednesday, with the deal contingent on a physical examination.
Per Bob Dutton of the News Tribune, "Baker, 34, alerted his Twitter followers to his new deal early Wednesday by announcing “Next chapter begins. @Mariners.”'
The contract will undoubtedly contain an invitation to Spring Training, and is likely to become fully official by the end of the week.
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Acquiring the seven-year veteran gives the Mariners a veteran option with proven behind-the-plate skills to add to the mix when it comes to finding a backup for Mike Zunino. He will likely battle Jesus Sucre for the job this spring, with the loser projecting to share time with John Hicks at Triple-A Tacoma.
The left-handed hitting Baker hit an alarming .192 in 68 games for the Chicago Cubs in 2014, so count on Mariners coaches surveying his swing in Spring Training to see if he can rebound closer to (or above) his .247 career batting average.
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