OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - The Oakland Athletics agreed to terms on a $535,000, one-year contract with backup catcher Rob Bowen on Friday.
Bowen was on the major league roster all season but played in only 37 games in 2008 as the backup to rookie Kurt Suzuki.Bowen, part of the July 2007 trade that sent Jason Kendall to the Chicago Cubs, batted .176 with a home run and nine RBIs and started 25 games behind the plate.
Bowen was one of three players on the A's 40-man roster eligible for arbitration, along with right-hander Justin Duchscherer and designated hitter/outfielder Jack Cust.
Oakland also announced it would tender contracts to all players on the 40-man roster not yet under contract for 2009.
