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The Chicago Cubs have claimed former Los Angeles Angels catcher Jonathan Lucroy after he was designated for assignment (DFA), according to MLB Network's Jon Heyman.
Lucroy was DFA'd to make room for Max Stassi, whom the Angels acquired at the trade deadline. After clearing waivers, Lucroy will head to the North Side of Chicago.
This is the second time the Cubs have had to make a play for a third catcher, both times due to injuries sustained by starting backstop Willson Contreras.
The Venezuelan All-Star was placed on the 10-day IL after suffering a hamstring injury and is reportedly going to miss about four weeks of time.
Chicago had initially seemed resigned to working with two catchers — Victor Caratini and Taylor Davis — but they will fortify the position by bringing Lucroy into the fold.
Now in his 10th year in the league, Lucroy has really struggled for the better part of two seasons. In 74 games with the Angels, Lucroy slashed .242/.310/.371 with an OPS+ of 81 and a wRC+ of just 84, according to FanGraphs.
Lucroy was once an elite defensive catcher, but the advanced metrics have not been very kind to him in his old age.
The 33-year-old Lucroy makes his return to the National League Central division after he began his career with the Milwaukee Brewers, where he played the first six-plus seasons of his career and was named an All-Star in 2016.
Ultimately, the Cubs decided they felt more comfortable adding Lucroy to the roster instead of relying on the soft-swinging Davis as the backup until Contreras returns.
