The Cubs have signed free-agent catcher Jose Lobaton to a minor league deal with an invitation to Summer Camp, per Tim Stebbins of NBC Sports Chicago. There’s no word on whether Lobaton will report to Wrigley Field or the Cubs’ alternate training site in South Bend, Ind.
The 35-year-old Lobaton is a veteran of a few major league organizations, most recently the Dodgers, and a lifetime .215/.293/.319 hitter in the bigs. Lobaton joined the Dodgers in a trade with the Mariners last August, but he didn’t appear in MLB with either club in 2019 and hasn’t logged at least 100 at-bats in a season at the game’s highest level since 2017. The Dodgers recently released the switch-hitter, who posted a .236/.310/.427 line with 14 home runs over 374 PA in Triple-A ball a year ago.
Lobaton is clearly facing an uphill battle in carving out a role with the Cubs. They have an elite tandem behind the plate in Willson Contreras and Victor Caratini, not to mention an experienced third option in Josh Phegley.
Rather see them utilize Amaya as a third option but clearly don’t think he’s ready for it yet
I’d rather have them utilize Higgins instead of Amaya. Why burn service time for Amaya?
And as others have mentioned, this is about Rizzo and his ongoing back issues.Dude lost all his baby fat during the delay but still has back issues. Though his injury is not the same as Mattingly’s, it is eerily familiar.
I will add the obligatory “good depth”
Comment
Good depth for Cubs
Trade bait as the Giants need a catcher for the season after Posey opted out….sign a catcher and trade one from your surplus….ingenious….
If the Giants wanted him they would have signed him instead
Pretty sure he means trade one of the ones they currently have. Have Lobaton as the the 3rd option rather than a more valuable catcher.
Probably insurance in-case Rizzo needs to DH more with his back issue, moving Caratini to 1B.
Bingo.
World Series Champs
This move will surely put them over the top for a championship. What a great signing. The ink isn’t even dry on the contract and Cub fans are already lining up for World Series tickets.
I don’t the people of Chicago are allowed outside yet (unless it is to give the mayor a haircut), so no lining up for tickets.
Not a very intelligent comment La Verdad
Why not sign Russell Martin. I was hoping Yankees signed him as a backup. Did he retire or just waiting for Dodgers to come calling.