(670 The Score) The Cubs have signed catcher Jonathan Lucroy to add depth behind the plate, they announced Wednesday afternoon.
Lucroy, 33, is a two-time All-Star who was recently designated for assignment and then released by the Angels. He's having a down season in hitting .242 with seven homers, 30 RBIs and a .681 OPS in 74 games for the Angels, but he has extensive experience and the Cubs are in need of a veteran presence with All-Star catcher Willson Contreras sidelined by a hamstring strain through early September. Lucroy has also thrown out 15 of 57 attempted base-stealers, a 26.3 percentage that's about league average.
Lucroy will join the team in time for their game at Cincinnati on Thursday evening, manager Joe Maddon said. The Cubs will send catcher Taylor Davis back to Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move.
The Cubs will pay Lucroy a pro-rated minimum salary for the rest of the sason, with the Angels picking up the rest of what he's owed. Lucroy suffered a concussion in a nasty collision at home plate that sidelined him for three weeks in July, but he has since returned to action.
Jon Heyman of MLB Network was the first to report the news.
