In 2008, the Marlins were coming off a 71-91 campaign in their first season under manager Fredi Gonzalez. Six-foot-one catcher John Baker was originally selected by the Athletics in the fourth round of the MLB Amateur Entry Draft in 2002, out of the University of California. In three seasons with the Bears, he hit .340/.423/.490 in 108 Division 1 contests.
After his selection, Baker, an Alameda, CA native spent four seasons in the A’s minor league feeder system, then was waived and picked up by Florida after the 2005 season, and rewaived and picked back up again by the A’s 21 days later.