05-12-2009, 08:59 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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Join Date: Feb 2008
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Brewers Sign Catalanotto
Fox Sports.
Quote:
The Brewers, adding a needed left-handed bat, have reached agreement with free agent Frank Catalanotto, according to a major-league source.
Catalanotto, 35, will report to extended spring training in Arizona, work out for about 10 days and then join either the Brewers' Class AA or AAA affiliate.
If all goes according to plan, he could join the major-league roster by June 1, the source said.
Catalanotto likely would serve the club as a reserve outfielder and left-handed pinch-hitter, possibly replacing Brad Nelson, who is 0- for-20 on the season.
General manager Doug Melvin said Tuesday he called Catalanotto on Monday to discuss if he would want to join the Brewers in a limited role coming off the bench as a left-handed pinch hitter.
"I just asked him if he was interested in still playing and he said he was," said Melvin, who was the general manager in Texas in 2000-01 when Catalanotto played there. "There's no DH, there's not a lot of playing time in the outfield, we've got a regular lineup."
The Rangers released Catalanotto at the end of spring training despite owing him $6 million to clear a roster spot for outfielder Andruw Jones.
Catalanotto, a 12-year veteran, owns an .807 career OPS, though that number dipped to .741 last season. The Brewers will be his first National League team.
"He can still hit, there's no doubt about it," Brewers manager Ken Macha said.
Catalanotto is a lifetime .292 hitter with 83 homers and 447 RBIs.
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Catalanotto is a great player coming off the bench. While he isn't anything more than an average fielder at any position, his bat is still solid, to say the least.
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Brewers Sign Catalanotto
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