Billsman
December 26th, 2005, 11:02:31 PM
<CENTER>Cleveland Signs Former-Bison Tim Laker to Minor League Deal
</CENTER><TABLE width=358 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>http://www.bisons.com/images/front_page/1134751879.jpg </TD></TR><TR><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><CENTER>Howard also signs with Tribe</CENTER>
The Cleveland Indians announced Friday the club has signed catcher Tim Laker and pitcher Ben Howard to Minor League contracts with non-roster invitations to Major League spring training camp.
Laker, 36, returns to the Indians after spending four seasons in the Tribe’s organization from 2001-2004. That time included part of two seasons with the Buffalo Bisons. In 2001, he hit .247 (79-320) with 20 home runs and 57RBI in 86 games for the Herd (the most home runs he’s hit in a single season). In 2002, he returned to the Bisons after serious off-season heath issues (pancreas and liver infection) to hit .227 (49-216) with four home runs and 28RBI in 62 games. That year, he won both the Judge Michael Dillon Comeback Player of the Year Award and the Joe DeSa Most Inspirational Player Award.
Laker spent the majority of the 2005 season at Triple-A Durham (Tampa Bay farm system) where he hit .226 (74-327) with 19 doubles, 11 home runs and 44RBI in 89 games. He did post one at bat in one game in April for the Devil Rays before returning to Durham for the season. Tim was the Tribe's back-up catcher in 2003 and 2004 after joining the organization in 2001. He is entering his 19th season professionally after being selected in the 6th round of the 1988 draft by Montreal.
Howard, 26, spent the 2005 season at Triple-A Albuquerque in the Florida Marlins farm system where he went 6-3 with a 4.63 ERA in 54 games and three starts (83.2IP, 85H, 43ER, 29BB, 87K). He posted an ERA of 3.99 (70.0IP, 69H, 31ER, 78K) in relief and finished T6th in the PCL in appearances. Howard has split his professional career between the San Diego and Florida organizations, appearing in 40 big league games (2-5, 5.20ERA, 83.0IP, 81H, 48ER) from 2002-04 with the Padres and Marlins. He was San Diego's 2nd round pick in 1997.
</CENTER><TABLE width=358 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>http://www.bisons.com/images/front_page/1134751879.jpg </TD></TR><TR><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><CENTER>Howard also signs with Tribe</CENTER>
The Cleveland Indians announced Friday the club has signed catcher Tim Laker and pitcher Ben Howard to Minor League contracts with non-roster invitations to Major League spring training camp.
Laker, 36, returns to the Indians after spending four seasons in the Tribe’s organization from 2001-2004. That time included part of two seasons with the Buffalo Bisons. In 2001, he hit .247 (79-320) with 20 home runs and 57RBI in 86 games for the Herd (the most home runs he’s hit in a single season). In 2002, he returned to the Bisons after serious off-season heath issues (pancreas and liver infection) to hit .227 (49-216) with four home runs and 28RBI in 62 games. That year, he won both the Judge Michael Dillon Comeback Player of the Year Award and the Joe DeSa Most Inspirational Player Award.
Laker spent the majority of the 2005 season at Triple-A Durham (Tampa Bay farm system) where he hit .226 (74-327) with 19 doubles, 11 home runs and 44RBI in 89 games. He did post one at bat in one game in April for the Devil Rays before returning to Durham for the season. Tim was the Tribe's back-up catcher in 2003 and 2004 after joining the organization in 2001. He is entering his 19th season professionally after being selected in the 6th round of the 1988 draft by Montreal.
Howard, 26, spent the 2005 season at Triple-A Albuquerque in the Florida Marlins farm system where he went 6-3 with a 4.63 ERA in 54 games and three starts (83.2IP, 85H, 43ER, 29BB, 87K). He posted an ERA of 3.99 (70.0IP, 69H, 31ER, 78K) in relief and finished T6th in the PCL in appearances. Howard has split his professional career between the San Diego and Florida organizations, appearing in 40 big league games (2-5, 5.20ERA, 83.0IP, 81H, 48ER) from 2002-04 with the Padres and Marlins. He was San Diego's 2nd round pick in 1997.