CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Indians agreed Friday to minor
league contracts with catcher Tim Laker and right-hander Ben
Howard.
The 36-year-old Laker was the Indians' backup catcher in 2003
and 2004. He played in one game for Tampa Bay last April and spent
the rest of the season at Triple-A Durham where he hit .226 with 11
home runs and 44 RBIss in 89 games.
Howard, 26, spent last season at Triple-A Albuquerque in the
Florida Marlins system where he went 6-3 with a 4.63 ERA in 54
games, striking out 87 in 83 2/3 innings. Howard played in 40 games
with San Diego and Florida from 2002-2004, going 2-5 with a 5.20
ERA.
If added to the 40-man roster, Howard would get a contract
paying him at annual rate of $340,000 in the majors.