Cubs add closer Cody Allen on minor-league deal

The Chicago Cubs announced Friday they signed reliever Cody Allen to a minor-league contract and assigned him to the team's alternate training site at South Bend, according to Patrick Mooney of The Athletic.

Allen, 31, inked a deal with the Texas Rangers in February, but he was released on July 24.

Though never an All-Star, Allen was a top closer for the Cleveland Indians from 2014-17 when he posted a 2.62 ERA while recording 120 saves and 369 strikeouts in 274 1/3 innings.

After a down season in 2018 (4.70 ERA), he struggled to a 6.26 ERA in 23 innings with the Los Angeles Angels last year before being released in mid-June.