Jamie Burke

2013

There was no outlook written for Jamie Burke.

2009

Burke has had a decent two-year run as the backup catcher in Seattle, but he'll likely serve as organizational depth at Triple-A this time around unless the Mariners opt to carry three catchers. Jeff Clement and Kenji Johjima will share the catching duties in 2009, and even if Clement moves to DH or first base full-time, the Mariners have Rob Johnson waiting in Triple-A to join the big league club as the backup. Burke is good behind the plate but doesn't offer much at bat, though he was more than adequate compared to what the Mariners received from their backup catchers in previous years. He didn't get much playing time after Clement joined the team last year, recording only 36 at-bats in the second half, foretelling his limited upside with the club.

2008

Burke is a no-name, journeyman backup catcher who registers little interest, fantasy or otherwise, outside Seattle. But Mariners fans would gladly buy him a beer for plugging what had become an annoying hole in the Seattle lineup. Following last year's backup catcher, Rene Rivera, who hit .152/.184/.253, Burke filled in for starter Kenji Johjima better than could be reasonably expected, hitting .301/.363/.398. A surprise to make the team out of spring training, Burke even hit his first career home run after 123 major league games in 15 years of professional baseball. Despite that, Burke's hold on the job is tenuous as prospect Jeff Clement is almost ready to take over. If Clement's not traded, he'll likely make the big league squad sometime in 2008, making the backup job a timeshare or pushing Burke aside altogether.

2005

Burke's no spring chicken, but is an effective bench bat/third catcher with a track record of hitting above .300 in the upper minors (and now, the majors). The Sox might be pressing their luck expecting him to be their #2 backstop though, even if only from a defensive perspective.

2004

Burke played 72 of his 93 Triple-A games behind the plate, and proved adequate enough with the glove to put himself in the White Sox's plans for 2004 as Sandy Alomar insurance. Being on the wrong side of 30 though, Burke's future as a major league regular was yesterday.

2003