Roster moves: Cubs sign veteran catcher, DFA reliever |
CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today signed catcher Tony Wolters to a one-year major league contract. In a corresponding move, right-handed pitcher James Norwood has been designated for assignment.
Wolters, 28, owns a .238 career batting average (256-for-1,075) with 48 doubles, nine triples, seven home runs and 123 RBI in 391 major league games with Colorado from 2016-20. In 2019 with the Rockies, Wolters ranked third among N.L. catchers with 20 caught stealings while he established career-highs in games (121), runs (42), hits (94), doubles (17), RBI (42) and batting average (.262). He recorded a 106-game errorless streak through August 18 of that season, the second-longest errorless streak for a catcher in Rockies history (Chris Iannetta, 157 games from 2007-09). Wolters hit .230 (23-for-100) with four doubles and eight RBI in 42 games for the Rockies in 2020 prior to becoming a free agent in the offseason. He signed a minor league deal with the Pirates last month before he was granted his release on March 29. Originally selected by Cleveland in the third round of the 2010 draft out of Rancho Buena Vista High School in California, the left-handed batting Wolters was claimed off waivers by Colorado on February 18, 2016. He owns a .258 average (439-for-1,702) with 80 doubles, 16 triples, 17 home runs and 175 RBI in 454 career minor league contests. Norwood, 27, is 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA (11 ER/22.0 IP) in 23 career relief appearances spanning the 2018-20 seasons for Chicago. He was selected by the Cubs in the seventh round of the 2014 draft. The #Cubs today signed catcher Tony Wolters to a one-year major league contract.
#Cubs finalize the 26-man roster and sign @TonyWolters to a one-year contract. #Cub fans remember him by his 13th inning base hit RBI in the 2018 WC game.
RHP James Norwood has been designated for assignment. pic.twitter.com/clJXIzvRbA