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Cubs Sign Robinson Chirinos To Major League Deal

By Anthony Franco | July 5, 2021 at 3:36pm CDT

The Cubs announced they’ve signed catcher Robinson Chirinos to a one-year, major league contract. Fellow backstop Taylor Gushue has been designated for assignment to create space on the active and 40-man rosters.

Chirinos signed a minor league deal with the Yankees over the offseason. A Spring Training hit by pitch led to a right wrist fracture that required surgical repair, helping limit the 37-year-old to 45 plate appearances at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. New York, set behind the plate with a combination of Gary Sánchez and Kyle Higashioka, released Chirinos on Sunday.

It only took the veteran a day to land a big league opportunity elsewhere. He’ll immediately step in as Willson Contreras’s backup in Chicago, a role that has been in flux all season. In addition to Gushue, Tony Wolters, Austin Romine, José Lobatón and P.J. Higgins have all taken brief turns as the Cubs #2 catcher. Wolters struggled and was quickly designated for assignment, while each of Romine, Lobatón and Higgins has suffered some form of significant injury.

That turnover will lead to another opportunity for Chirinos. The MDR Sports Management client has seen action in parts of nine big league seasons, including every year from 2013-20. At his best, he was an above-average hitter with solid power from the right-handed batters box, serving as the primary catcher for the Rangers and Astros. Chirinos is coming off a disappointing 2020 campaign, but that only spanned 82 plate appearances and he’s not far removed from a strong .238/.347/.443 line with Houston in 2019. He’s returning to his original organization, having signed with the Cubs as an amateur from Venezuela back in 2000.

Chicago will have a week to trade Gushue or expose him to waivers. The Cubs selected the 27-year-old after Lobatón’s injury last week. He has since made his first two career major league appearances, going hitless in four trips to the plate. Signed to a minor league deal over the winter, the former Nationals prospect has hit a solid .272/.328/.440 with Triple-A Iowa this season.

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Chicago Cubs Newsstand Transactions Robinson Chirinos Taylor Gushue

Chip Hale Leaves Tigers For Head Coaching Position At University Of Arizona
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64 Comments

  1. The Baseball Fan

    4 years ago

    Good for depth

    5
    Reply
    • Cmurphy

      4 years ago

      Depth would imply a need for when the catcher or backup catcher get injured. He will be their backup catcher. Their catcher depth is Tony Wolters in Triple A.

      Reply
      • uncle1sock

        4 years ago

        They’ve lost 4 backup Catchers this season. Good depth signing

        1
        Reply
      • Dogbone

        4 years ago

        What’s this news bulletin: Yasmani Grandal out with a calf injury? Holy what! Chirinos would look pretty good on the Sox roster right now.

        Reply
    • Franklin Souze

      4 years ago

      Good Grief- Gary Sanchez is brutal behind the plate — should be wearing two boxing gloves in lieu of a catchers mitt.
      I hope Chirnos gets back to the show this season.

      2
      Reply
      • tim815

        4 years ago

        He’s on the roster tonight.

        Reply
      • solaris602

        4 years ago

        Careful, Yankees fans will try to convince you that your eyes are lying to you where Sanchez is concerned.

        1
        Reply
        • YankeesBleacherCreature

          4 years ago

          This one won’t. His bat has been much better lately so that helps mitigate his dish defiencies.

          Reply
  2. orange2001

    4 years ago

    Was hoping for the Angels to take him. Anyone is better than Drew Butera for catching depth.

    1
    Reply
  3. JAMES JACOBSEN

    4 years ago

    Ya think there planning to trade Contreras?

    Reply
    • Rsox

      4 years ago

      To replace him with a 37 year old? I doubt it. Cubs need a backup as they have used four already this season

      3
      Reply
      • TikTok Influencer

        4 years ago

        They have used more than that. Cubs 2021 backup catchers:
        1. Austin Romine
        2. Tony Wolters
        3. P.J. Higgins
        4. Jose Lobaton
        5. Taylor Gushue
        6. Robinson Chirinos
        ….

        1
        Reply
        • ChiSox_Fan

          4 years ago

          Randy Hundley (and son Todd) still available!!

          Reply
        • Fred K. Burke

          4 years ago

          Don’t know about the Hundley’s but George “The Baron” Mitterwald was contacted and respectfully declined.

          Reply
        • rememberthecoop

          4 years ago

          It’s all-star time, so let’s bring out Steve Swisher. The Cubs were so bad that he was their representative in 1976.

          BTW, I seriously dislike that rule (where every team needs an all-star).

          2
          Reply
        • solaris602

          4 years ago

          None of any of that would have been necessary had they not included Caratini in the Darvish trade. Still scratching my head over that.

          2
          Reply
        • rememberthecoop

          4 years ago

          They were considered a package deal, I guess, because he was Yu’s personal catcher. But seriously, you’re right – they had an excellent backup catcher and just let him go in what was clearly a salary dump of a “trade”.

          1
          Reply
        • Rsox

          4 years ago

          When Greg Maddux was in Atlanta he had Damon Berryhill, Charlie O’Brien, Eddie Perez, and Henry Blanco as his personal Catchers. Darvish could have found another Catcher and the Cubs wouldn’t have to be checking updated scouting reports on Rick Wrona and Hector Villanueva

          Reply
    • Logjammer D"Baggagecling

      4 years ago

      Of the remaining core players. Contreras should be untouchable.

      2
      Reply
      • dray16

        4 years ago

        I would agree, I’d be more ok with Baez, Bryant or Rizzo getting traded. not sure how many they can keep, but he’d be the one you can’t let leave IMO

        3
        Reply
      • thecoffinnail

        4 years ago

        Why? The Cubs have an excellent catching prospect in Miguel Amaya. He doesn’t have much power but knows how to get on base. He definitely has the size and frame to develop more power and his defense is solid. Cubs are gonna rebuild soon and getting a decent prospect for Contreras while clearing the way for Amaya makes sense. The player they should hold onto is Rizzo. He’s always been a solid player and seems to be a good leader. Seems like exactly the type of player you want mentoring rookies. I won’t miss Bryant at all. Hope he joins Harper on the Phillies so they can tell each other how great they are and how lucky the team is to have them.

        3
        Reply
        • richdanna

          4 years ago

          You read to to many Facebook Cubs fans. You’re starting to sound like them.

          Reply
    • rememberthecoop

      4 years ago

      * they’re *

      Reply
  4. Sheep8

    4 years ago

    back to the organization where it all started!

    1
    Reply
  5. scjohn92

    4 years ago

    Let the fire sale begin! Contreras looks to be the first out the door. Losing 9 in a row has likely forced Rickett’s hand, especially with the lower revenues from the stadium this year and last.

    3
    Reply
    • Adolpho67

      4 years ago

      Lol what a terrible take. Contreras will not be traded this year. This move to sign Chirinos simply plugs the back-up C position. There are plenty of pieces to trade but Willy is one.

      4
      Reply
      • bot

        4 years ago

        Why not ? He’s arguably their most valuable piece and in a market where many teams could use an upgrade at catcher.

        2
        Reply
        • Adolpho67

          4 years ago

          Because they’re not blowing it all up for a rebuild. You have to retain some value and Willy is a huge piece, especially as a part of their pitching staff/run prevention. Plenty to trade but you don’t sell everything.

          2
          Reply
    • rememberthecoop

      4 years ago

      Wait – “forced his hand”? What?! Seriously, man, the only thing that forced his hand WAS HIS OWN HAND! Ricketts decided to go cheap just at a point where the Cubs needed to add a different mix to their offense. As for pitching, they needed to add, not subtract. Fact is, the Darvish Dump, as I’m calling it, should have signaled the end for the current core. Instead, the team fooled Hoyer and Ricketts with a tremendous month of May and messed up their plans. Well, at least until the June Swoon came along.

      The way Jed is trying to handle this has been proven to be very hard to achieve – which is to attempt to get back to a contending status without going through a full rebuild. Oh, and without spending much money. Good luck with that Hoyer.

      1
      Reply
  6. ChiSox_Fan

    4 years ago

    Dumpster divin’ predicted earlier today.

    3
    Reply
    • Colt 45

      4 years ago

      Chirinos is FAR from a dumpster dive

      3
      Reply
      • ChiSox_Fan

        4 years ago

        My bad… That’s why he was released… he is HOF material.

        1
        Reply
        • Colt 45

          4 years ago

          It is your bad.
          1) lotta room between dumpster dive and HOF
          2) Team that released him is Yankees who are committed to leaving Sanchez back there – I suspect they were doing Chirinos a solid here

          Reply
        • YankeesBleacherCreature

          4 years ago

          Opting-out and getting released are two different things.

          1
          Reply
      • Logjammer D"Baggagecling

        4 years ago

        He’s a white sox fan. If Eloy ever went to the Cubs when he became a free agent. He would say it was a Dumpster dive move. He would say the same if they signed Trvor Bauer or Gerrit Cole.

        1
        Reply
    • Dumpster Divin Theo

      4 years ago

      You rang?

      3
      Reply
    • TikTok Influencer

      4 years ago

      HUZZAH! Oh Hallelujah! Let us rejoice! The Cubs have been saved! THE UNIVERSE IS IN THE CUBS FAVOR! YES YES HELL YES YESSIR!!!

      You know what they say about backup catchers? SIXTH TIME IS THE CHARM!

      I thought the Cubs would never win a game again, but let us rejoice they will now surely win the World Series in 2021.

      They will maintain dominance over their domain. They will revive the Golden Age of baseball. They will revolutionize the industry of sports. All of this thanks to the grace and wisdom of the honorable Robinson Chirinos!

      1
      Reply
    • Dogbone

      4 years ago

      Chisox fan, are you still wishing your fading pitching staff, had James McCann to throw to? At least McCann could block pitches and catch throws from their outfield lol.

      Reply
      • ChiSox_Fan

        4 years ago

        Ship has sailed.

        Last time I checked… the Sox have 6 game lead over Cleveland and ridiculous huge lead over rest of teams in division and on their way to 2021 WS Championship!!

        Why do u call yourself “Dogboner”?

        2
        Reply
        • Dogbone

          4 years ago

          Soxfan, your team is in, by farrrr, the absolute weakest division in all of baseball.

          Reply
        • thecoffinnail

          4 years ago

          The division doesn’t matter. The White Sox did a great job on their rebuild. Look at all of the injuries they have sustained and still play well. Getting an old school manager was a great move. Analytics so far haven’t proven anything with teams like the Rays and A’s still without a championship while leaning heavily on them. LaRussa is a proven winner and is exactly the manager you want going into the playoffs. He knows his players and doesn’t need computer printouts of the best matchups. The intangibles still and will always be an important part of the game. The sooner teams like the Yankees realize that and hire a real manager and not a yes man to the GM, the sooner they will win championships again.

          1
          Reply
    • Sheep8

      4 years ago

      How’s Yermin doing in AAA?

      1
      Reply
  7. whyhayzee

    4 years ago

    Gushue stepped in it, for sure. Good luck to him.

    Reply
  8. Ham Fighter

    4 years ago

    Backup catcher Russian roulette at Wrigley

    3
    Reply
    • solaris602

      4 years ago

      Meanwhile Victor Caratini is tearing it up for SD.

      2
      Reply
      • Doug Dascenzo

        4 years ago

        Yeah but Caratini was part of the package that brought back Zach “4 2/3 innings” Davies, Martino Alvarez-Huerta, Andrelvis Harapeno, & Yunieskieri Gonzelito, so it was worth it. 2027, watch out y’all.

        3
        Reply
        • TikTok Influencer

          4 years ago

          $20 says Zach Davies will be the only player the Cubs got in the Darvish trade that will ever play in the majors.

          Padres receive: Darvish, Caratini

          Cubs receive: Washed up Davies, half of a local high school team.

          Reply
      • Franco27

        4 years ago

        .215 is tearing it up?

        Reply
  9. Central Valley

    4 years ago

    Is Zaidi Farhan on the phone inquiring about Kris Bryant?

    Reply
    • hopper15

      4 years ago

      No.

      1
      Reply
  10. Poster formerly known as . . .

    4 years ago

    I guess the longshot hope of Cashman trading Sanchez while he’s tops among backstops in OPS+ and fWAR over the last month just went down the chute. The Yankees have no ready replacement to platoon with Higgy. I suppose it’s just as well, as long as Cashman’s the one making the deals.

    2
    Reply
  11. Franco27

    4 years ago

    Bryant, Kimbrel, Pederson, Davies get moved before the deadline.

    Longshots but still possible: Hendricks, Contreras, Rizzo, Baez, Chaffin, Tepera

    Obviously, you can’t trade everyone. You still have to field a team this year, and leave a couple of key pieces for next.

    1
    Reply
  12. Cubs Dynasty

    4 years ago

    What a find. Our Cubs just are wizards at picking up potential phenoms. This one, a 37 year old with a surgically repaired wrist… Robocatcher, the movie.

    1
    Reply
  13. AndyD23

    4 years ago

    We had a hole and filled it….gonna be interesting to see how the Cubs tear it down in the next few weeks. I’m thinking they dump Kimbrel and Bryant, extend Javy and Rizzo……or maybe they spend it all on Bryant, and get Rizzo to take a hometown deal…Javy doesn’t have as much upside on the open market w/all the other SS available (Correra, Storey, Seager to name a few!)…..I HATE to see what’s going down, but this team has shown its true colors and it looks bad….get us some fresh blood!!!

    Reply
  14. Cubs Dynasty

    4 years ago

    Chirinos actually got in tonight’s 13-3 thrashing by the Phillies. Well, it really looks like things are falling apart. KB getting platooned all over the place. Happ relegated to playing third for the first time this season and without an at bat I might add. It looks like he might be shaking hands with Almora again at AAA soon. Sogard has thrown in more games than Kimbrel lately. What a mess…

    Reply
    • Curveball1984

      4 years ago

      What an expert… you do realize Almora is a Met and has been a Met for awhile now right?

      1
      Reply
      • Cubs Dynasty

        4 years ago

        Curveball1984. Really? Almora is a Met? OMG, really? Oops, hang on Curvy. Perhaps you didn’t know the Mets sent Almora down to AAA last week. So he’s really not a Met in the NL right now. By the way, Happ was converted to the outfield because he sucks on the infield. When at second, he is the worst in the NL. So just like I opined earlier, Happ and Almora can shake hands at AAA. Cheers Curvy. LMAO.

        1
        Reply
      • Cubs Dynasty

        4 years ago

        Unlike Curvy, I like it when our Cubs are moving up in the standings, not down.

        Reply
  15. Bob333

    4 years ago

    I told Cubs fans last week Adam Morgan blows and he will fail.Look what happened last night it does not get any better. Bad Signing

    1
    Reply
    • Cubs Dynasty

      4 years ago

      Yep, Morgan is just another short inning filler who will be brought in for grins. His 6.00 ERA this year ain’t that bad. LoL

      Reply
  16. UWPSUPERFAN77

    4 years ago

    Too bad for you Cubs Fans! At least you have Wriglyville to have fun in! I think most of your core will be traded! Time for the tear down .Nice run!

    1
    Reply
  17. GarryHarris

    4 years ago

    CHC prefers Robinson Chirinos over Wilson Ramos too. CHC could take longer than two games to play Taylor Gushue.

    1
    Reply
  18. whitesox2112

    4 years ago

    They haven’t been able to replace caratini yet; Scrubbie s

    Reply
  19. Bob333

    4 years ago

    When will the cubs stop signing Phillie reject pitchers Adam Morgan,Jake Arrietta.

    Reply

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