(Photo courtesy Scout.com) Seeing as how this is my first post on NFTN, I would just like to thank Oz for the opportunity to write for this site which already has a great reputation! I can’t wait for the C’s season to start, and even the other A’s Farm teams seasons that get underway in less than two weeks!

Former Vancouver Canadian, a 2002 alumni Catcher by the name of John Baker, has been the first Catcher from the A’s Minor-League-System to be traded this Spring, as he heads to the Florida Marlins, in exchange for infielder Jason Stokes.

Baker was a C/DH for Vancouver in 2002 appearing in 39 games, hitting One homer, 13 RBI and finished the year off with a .235 Batting Average.

Baker spent the last two seasons with Sacramento, and finishes his Minor-League-Career with Oakland with a .270 BA, 32 Homers, and 250 RBI, seven more than his final run count which stands at 243.

It was bound to happen soon, with one of Oakland’s catching prospects being traded, but once it finally happens it’s a bit sad. This trade is sort of like the Dustin Majewski trade a couple years ago, when he went to Toronto (Dustin is starting the year in AA New Hampshire btw, you read it here first), and with a crowded system full of catchers, Baker is just one of the first to be delt.

In return, Oakland is getting a 25-year-old Infielder, who mostly plays at 1st Base. Stokes has alot more power than Baker, hitting 87 homers in his time with the Marlins Organization, which included a 2002 stint in Kane County with the Cougars, who are now in the A’s minor league system.

Sounds like the guy’s injury-prone, but if he can stay healthy I think this could be an improved John Baker, position and batting wise.

Both players have yet to make their MLB debuts, but each have made Spring debuts in the past with the big clubs. Two years ago, Stokes went 1-10 for Florida striking out Seven of the Nine times he didn’t get on base, and the year before he was 0-1. Baker on the other hand, was 11-26 heading into this Spring, where he went 2-5.

We’ll miss ya JB!

J