Cubs sign Robinson Chirinos to MLB contract

The Chicago Cubs signed veteran backstop Robinson Chirinos to a one-year major-league contract on Monday to add some catching depth.

The financial terms of the deal weren't disclosed.

Chirinos is at Wrigley Field and will be active for Monday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies, although Willson Contreras will start behind the plate. Catcher Taylor Gushue was designated for assignment to make room for Chirinos on the 40-man roster.

The 37-year-old spent spring training with the New York Yankees, but he didn't make the team after fracturing his wrist. He appeared in 13 games for New York's Triple-A affiliate before being released on Sunday. In 2020, Chirinos posted a .475 OPS over 26 games split between the Texas Rangers and New York Mets.

Chirinos, whom the Cubs originally signed out of Venezuela in 2000, is a lifetime .231/.325/.431 hitter with 86 home runs and 269 RBIs across parts of nine big-league seasons with four teams.

The Cubs are desperate for catching help behind Contreras after losing two backups to injuries over the past week. There are currently three Cubs catchers on the 60-day injured list.