Remember this blog post a couple of weeks ago recapping the uncertain state of the Mariners’ catching beyond Adam Moore and (then unsigned) Miguel Olivo? Well, Olivo’s signing became official on Monday, but that still didn’t change the who-are-these-guys landscape at catcher in the organization.
I mean, what if Olivo gets hurt or Moore doesn’t play well? Who do the Mariners turn to then?
The Mariners helped settle that question late this afternoon by signing Josh Bard, who played 39 games for them last year, to a minor league contract with an invitation to the big-league spring training camp. The 32-year-old Bard split time with the Mariners and Class AAA Tacoma, starting 35 games in the big leagues and batting .214 with three home runs and 10 RBI.
On Oct. 7, four days after the Mariners’ season ended, Bard was traveling with friends on a hunting trip when their vehicle crashed, killing longtime friend Pat McKendry. Bard, a passenger in the vehicle driven by McKendry’s son Clancy, suffered minor injuries.
The Mariners have invited 14 non-roster players to spring training, two of them catchers — Bard and Chris Gimenez. Gimenez, who batted .160 in 169 at-bats with the Indians last year, signed with the Mariners as a free agent early this offseason.
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