More for the Bullpen: Cubs Sign Righty Reliever Tony Barnette

Well, there’s a bullpen signing that kinda came outta nowhere. The Cubs have another righty to work into the reliever mix:

The #Cubs and RHP Tony Barnette have agreed to terms on a 2019 contract with a club option for 2020. pic.twitter.com/fd5H8kXClO

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) February 1, 2019

Per Mark Gonzales, Barnette is getting $750,000 for 2019, and the club option for next year is worth $3 million.

The 35-year-old righty is not a guy I am all that familiar with, but he actually has pretty darn solid numbers for the Rangers over the past three years, and was flat-out fantastic last year:

There are a couple rubs, though: (1) That’s all his big league experience, as he pitched most of his professional career over in Japan; and (2) his season ended last year in July with a shoulder injury.

If he’s fully healthy and is the guy he showed last year – the peripherals match the results – then the Cubs just got a huge steal. But, of course, because of the health concerns and his age, you might get nothing at all. Given his contract, if he doesn’t make the big league team in Spring Training, then there isn’t too much sting if the Cubs simply have to part ways.

The Cubs have had a lot of success with these types of low-key reliever acquisitions (especially former Rangers!), so maybe there’s something here.

The Cubs’ 40-man roster now stands at 39 after the Ian Clarkin outright and this signing.

I’ll have to look more into this gent, because I don’t really know much about him beyond the numbers. Oh, and also the hair and the ‘stache, which I think he might not have anymore:

Unrelated heads up while you’re here:

Heads up – Big sale today at Fanatics on Cubs gear if you use the code FROST: https://t.co/ai4Z219Hh4 pic.twitter.com/JwfbIBkxgH

— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) February 1, 2019