Bako back with Cubs; pitcher Hill headed to O's?

Paul Bako is back. Rich Hill looks to be gone.

The Cubs on Friday signed free-agent catcher Bako to a one-year, $725,000 contract.

And according to reports out of Baltimore, it appears the Cubs are about to trade left-handed pitcher Hill to the Baltimore Orioles for a player to be named later as soon as the Orioles can clear a roster spot for Hill.

Bako, a left-handed hitter, will come to spring training in two weeks to compete with switch hitter Koyie Hill for the backup spot behind Geovany Soto.

The 36-year-old Bako played for the Cubs in 2003-04. He was with the Cincinnati Reds last year, batting .217 with an on-base percentage of .299 and 6 home runs.

"We like Koyie Hill," said Cubs general manager Jim Hendry. "We felt we needed a guy to come in and compete so that we could cover ourselves in case of injury. It'll be a wide-open camp.

"We have a lot of respect for Paul. He'll be a good fit for Soto, like Koyie is. He's a good catch-and-throw guy, and he can handle pitchers well. That position isn't going to be a big offensive side for us, but it gives us a left-handed bat."

Bako caught Greg Maddux's 300th win in 2004 and was Maddux's catcher during one of his two stints with Atlanta. Other stops for Bako have included Detroit, Houston, Florida, Milwaukee, Los Angeles (Dodgers), Kansas City and Baltimore.

The Cubs signed Henry Blanco to replace Bako after 2004, and Blanco caught four seasons with the Cubs before they cut ties with him this winter. Blanco wound up signing with San Diego.

Rich Hill, 28, endured control problems last year, beginning with spring training, and wound up at Class AAA Iowa in early May, not to return.

After he had a rough winter-ball season, the Cubs apparently decided a change of scenery was best for him. He also is out of minor-league options, which means the Cubs could have lost him on waivers if they tried to send him to the minors again.

Hendry didn't wish to comment for the record on Rich Hill, but with spring training upon him, he said he'll continue trying to fine-tune the club.

"We'll keep our ears open," he said. "There are a lot of good players left, but we don't lose sight of the fact that we picked up (outfielder) Reed Johnson last March 18 or 19. We don't have anything imminent, but we'll keep our eyes and ears open."