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Brad Ausmus

Marlins Sign Lo Duca, Claim Ausmus

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According to Joe Frisaro of MLB.com, the Marlins signed Paul Lo Duca to a minor league deal today.  Lo Duca will head to Triple A as the team’s insurance plan.

The Nationals signed Lo Duca for a hefty $5MM in December of ’07, three days before he was named in the Mitchell Report.  The 36 year-old hit just .230/.301/.281 in 153 plate appearances, hobbled by knee surgery and a broken bone in his throwing hand.  Lo Duca was a Marlin for part of the ’04 season and all of ’05, though he did not hit well for them.

Additionally, Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post reports that the Marlins claimed Brad Ausmus off waivers from the Astros.  It’s unclear whether they’ll work out a deal or salary dump.  Ausmus is owed another $590K this year.

Astros Make Offer To Ausmus

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The Astros hope to bring back Brad Ausmus one more time, recently offering him a one-year, $2MM contract.  Ausmus, who will be 39 next season, hasn’t decided what he wants to do yet.

$2MM per year is becoming the going rate for backup catchers, which is probably the role the Astros have in mind for Ausmus next year.  In November of last year, the Cubs set the market by giving Henry Blanco $5.25MM over two years.  Mike Redmond and Vance Wilson had each signed for two years, $2MM a few months prior.  Mike Lieberthal got one year and $1.25MM.  The Cubs seem to set the market often.

The Cubs and Astros are in similar situations, with up-and-coming young backstops in Geovany Soto and J.R. Towles. Each is going to need a defensive-minded backup long on experience.

Mets Catching Priorities And More

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Talked to my Mets source recently, and their priorities for catcher are as follows.

1.  Ramon Hernandez, but only at the right length (three years) and price (maybe $8MM per).  The Mets are pretending publicly they’d start the season with Ramon Castro behind the plate.  That posturing is similar to the Yankees’ assertion that they could begin the ’06 season with Bubba Crosby in center.  Not gonna happen.

2.  Bengie Molina, if he takes less cash than Hernandez.

3.  Brad Ausmus.

4.  Toby Hall through trade. 

Ivan Rodriguez is not on the club’s radar due to injury concerns and his salary. 

The Mets are likely to trade Jeff Keppinger or Anderson Hernandez and start the remaining player in Triple A in 2006.  They have an eye on Mark Grudzielanek to fill the 2B void.

The latest on Manny Ramirez is that the Red Sox are simply asking for too much from the Mets for the slugger.  New York is the one serious trade partner for Ramirez and won’t be surrendering Lastings Milledge and Cliff Floyd.

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