Apologies to recently re-signed minor league veterans Mark Johnson and Scott “John” McClain. They were signed to minor-league deals earlier this week, and we were remiss in reporting it. Each got a Spring Training invitation, but to the minor league portion.
The Cubs have signed a couple of familiar faces to minor-league deals and invited them to spring training but without invites to big-league camp. Catcher Mark Johnson was in big-league camp last year as nonroster guy, and he played 22 games at Class AAA Iowa.
Third baseman Scott McClain is back, too, after spending last year with Hiroshima in Japan. McClain was a spring-training sensation a couple times earlier in the decade, and it seemed like he might damn near make the club one year out of camp. He did get into 13 games with the Cubs in 2005. He went to Japan last year after opening the season with the Giants’ Class AAA club. A nicer guy you won’t meet, and it’s possible both McClain and Johnson will be starting their “second careers” (read coaches) in the Cubs system. DailyHerald.com Blogs.
It goes without saying that neither is expected to make any contributions to the big league club this year. Still, good to know the Cubs are committed to bringing in good, knowledgeable veterans to help guide the youngsters.