CHICAGO -- The Cubs planned on waiting until the end of Spring Training, giving the club a chance to survey some external options, to finalize their plans for the backup catching role. Chicago has found a solution in Tony Wolters.
On the eve of Opening Day, the Cubs announced Wednesday that they signed Wolters to a one-year Major League contract. Reliever James Norwood was designated for assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Wolters, who will serve as Chicago's No. 2 catcher behind All-Star Willson Contreras to begin the season.
"We liked him this winter," Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said of Wolters. "We had a chance to get a guy [who] we think is a really good defensive catcher, a left-handed bat that complements Willson, and also add to our depth. As I've said, ad nauseam, depth is going to be the key to the 2021 season."
The Cubs signed veteran Austin Romine to a one-year pact over the offseason to fill that role, but the catcher sustained a right knee sprain during Spring Training and his timetable for return remains unclear. Non-roster invitee P.J. Higgins was the leading internal candidate for the backup duties, but the decision to bring the 28-year-old Wolters into the fold shows the club's preference for a more established catcher with Major League experience.
"With Romine's injury, I think it's the kind of injury where it's hard to give a timeframe," Hoyer said. "But certainly, it's already probably been a touch slower than we thought it would be at the beginning. And so, making sure we have depth in that position was important. We actually have a ton of faith in P.J. Higgins. I thought he did a great job this spring. Acquiring Wolters wasn't demeaning to P.J. in any way."
In parts of five seasons with the Rockies, Wolters has slashed .238/.323/.319, while building a solid defensive reputation. Over his career behind the plate, Wolters has logged 25 Defensive Runs Saved and 11.3 Framing Runs (per Fangraphs), though his showing in the latter category has dropped in recent years. After a stellar showing in 2018 (9.6 Framing Runs), Wolters dropped to minus 8.2 (904 1/3 innings) in '19 and minus 1.7 in '20 (283 2/3 innings).
Wolters signed a Minor League deal with the Pirates prior to this season, but he was released on Monday. As it happens, Chicago is hosting Pittsburgh in the season-opening series, which begins Thursday at Wrigley Field. Cubs fans will remember Wolters for his go-ahead single for Colorado in the 13th inning of Chicago's 2-1 National League Wild Card Game loss at the end of the 2018 campaign.
With Wolters added to the mix, the Cubs have put the final touch on their Opening Day bench, which also includes fourth outfielder Jake Marisnick, along with utility men Eric Sogard and Matt Duffy.