The Cubs added to their catching depth on Thursday by signing Dioner Navarro, a one-time All-Star.
Sources confirmed the agreement, which CBS Sports reported at 1.75 million for next season, when Navarro will be 29 years old and a veteran presence next to Welington Castillo.
Team president Theo Epstein has described Castillo as a possible core player, and manager Dale Sveum has described the 25-year-old catcher as a potential Gold Glove winner and future All-Star, someone who will make a lot of money in this game.
Sveum viewed Castillo as probably the teams most improved player during the second half of last season as he learned how to manage the pitching staff and call a game.
Navarrowho appeared in 24 games with the Cincinnati Reds last season and spent a significant amount of the year at the Triple-A levelcould help in those areas.
Navarro emerged as an All-Star with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2008, hitting .295 with seven homers and 54 RBI in 120 games, though hes struggled to maintain that level of production.
That year Navarro also got into a dugout scrap with Matt Garza, but that didnt stop the Rays from making a miracle run to the World Series.
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Garzawho went on to eliminate Epsteins Boston Red Sox and become the ALCS MVPhas described the incident as a good learning experience that showed him you have to control your emotions. With Garza (elbow) now cleared to resume his normal offseason training program, it looks like they will be reunited on the North Side.