By Jim Callis
November 26, 2002

Two weeks after trading for all-star catcher Damian Miller, the Cubs dealt for another backstop. On Tuesday, they added Paul Bako from the Brewers. The price intially was reported as minor league third baseman Ryan Gripp, though later in the day it was modified to a player to be named later.

Bako, 30, is nothing special. His biggest claim to fame was serving as Greg Maddux' personal catcher in his year-plus stint with the Braves. What he does for Chicago is give the club a serviceable backup to Miller and absolutely no reason to hold onto free-agent bust Todd Hundley, who still has two years remaining on a four-year, $23.5 million contract. Bako is a mediocre lefthanded hitter (.235-4-20 in 87 games this year; .245-13-102 in 398 contests over his five-year career) and is absolutely feeble aginst southpaws (.172 lifetime). More known for his receiving skills, he threw out 25 percent of basestealers in 2002.

Gripp, 24, won the low Class A Midwest League batting title with a .333 average in 2000 but hasn't done much since. A third-round pick out of Creighton in 1999, he batted .232-10-49 in 116 games at Double-A West Tenn this summer. He became pull-conscious as he tried to hit more for more power the last two years, and that approach hasn't worked for him. He projected as a .280 hitter with 15-20 homers annually before his slide. Gripp's arm, range and mobility are a bit shaky for the hot corner and he may need to move to first base in the future.

Dec. 16 update: Gripp was confirmed as the player to be named.