Paul Lo Duca: Marlins Redux

             The Marlins have signed catcher Paul Lo Duca to a minor-league contract. He is expected to report to Triple A Albuquerque.   

"I'm happy to be back with the Marlins again," he said. "I want to be part of the postseason push.   

"I haven't caught in three weeks so I'm going to go to Albuquerque where they are going to give me a little time catching. I just want a chance to contribute -- hopefully to help the Marlins get to the playoffs."

             Lo Duca, who was released last week by the Washington Nationals, spent half of the 2004 season and all of '05 with the Marlins before being traded to the New York Mets for pitcher Gaby Hernandez and outfielder Dante Brinkley.

             The veteran catcher, who is 36, was plagued by injuries and appeared in only 20 games behind the plate for the Nationals this season, hitting just .230 overall with no home runs. Lo Duca was released on July 31 by the Nationals after the team decided to go with youth, assigning most of the catching duties to Jesus Flores.

            "I'm a better baseball player than I played," Lo Duca told reporters at the time of his release. "It's just an unfortunate year."

           Lo Duca is a four-time All-Star and owns a career average of .286 in 11 seasons with the Dodgers, Marlins, Mets and Nationals. But he has struggled throwing out runners (24 percent success rate over the past four seasons), fought through injuries, and was among players named in the Mitchell Report.

 

Comments

[Jose Can-snitch-o]

He did steroids too.

[Matt]

This is a good signing. I can't stand Lo Duca, but we need more depth at catcher and he'll be a good insurance policy for Treanor.

Johnny Bake is tearing it up at the plate though. He's a legit starter.