Cubs, Victorino agree to minor-league deal
Less than 24 hours after reintroducing Dexter Fowler, the Chicago Cubs bolstered their outfield depth even further, agreeing to terms on a minor-league deal with Shane Victorino.
Victorino, a two-time All-Star, will earn a base salary of $1 million if he makes the 25-man roster, with an additional $1 million available in performance bonuses, reports ESPN's Jerry Crasnick.
According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, the Cubs had agreed to terms with Victorino before unexpectedly re-signing Fowler, and wanted to honor their agreement with the 35-year-old and bring him to camp, even with his chances of earning a roster spot diminished.
Now heading into his 13th MLB season, Victorino has struggled mightily over the past two years amid a litany of injuries, appearing in just 101 games since 2014. Last year, in the final season of the three-year deal he signed with the Boston Red Sox ahead of the 2013 campaign, Victorino hit just .230/.308/.292 (67 OPS+) in 71 games between Boston and Los Angeles, getting shipped to the Angels ahead of the non-waiver trade deadline.
Still, Victorino earned MVP votes as recently as 2013 after posting an .801 OPS with 15 homers and 21 stolen bases to help Boston win a World Series title. He could provide depth behind Kyle Schwarber and Jorge Soler, two youngsters expected to see lots of time in the Cubs' outfield this season.