Marlins sign catcher Buck By Sports Network

MIAMI - The Florida Marlins have signed catcher John Buck to a three-year contract.

As per team policy, no terms of the deal were released. However, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported that it could be worth between $15-18 million.

Buck, 30, is coming off a breakout season with the Toronto Blue Jays. He hit .281 with 20 homers, 66 RBI and an .802 OPS in 118 games -- all career bests. However, he also had the worst strikeout-to-walk ratio in all of baseball at 111 to 16.

Still, his terrific campaign landed him on the American League All-Star team for the first time in his career. He also threw out 28 percent of baserunners attempting to steal.

Before signing a one-year, $2 million deal with Toronto last winter, Buck had spent the first six years of his career with the Kansas City Royals. He is a .243 lifetime hitter with 90 home runs in 702 games.

The Marlins were in need of catching help.

John Baker underwent Tommy John surgery in September that might keep him from being ready for spring training, while Ronny Paulino will begin the 2011 season serving the remainder of a 50-game suspension handed down in late August for testing positive for a banned substance.