One day after settling the closer job, the Cubs ended the final position-player battle in camp, making Koyie Hill the backup catcher and cutting veteran catcher Paul Bako, as well as former Yankee reliever Mike Stanton.
Neither veteran player had a bad spring. Bako hit .364 this spring, including a 5-for-5 streak at one point. But Hill had the inside track as a trusted backup already in the organization, and his spring was as good as Bako’s — actually hitting .381 through Sunday with a homer and four doubles.
Stanton was a longshot to make the roster from the start after missing all of last year. He had a 6.48 ERA in 10 appearances this spring — most of the damage in 2 or 3 of the appearances.
The two roster moves leave 28 players in camp, with only the final two bullpen spots to settle.
