Cubs, catcher Ross finalize 2-year deal
David Ross, a backup catcher who worked with Jon Lester when he was in Boston, has agreed to terms on a two-year contract with the Cubs.
Ross, 37, is a 13-year MLB veteran who has played for the Los Angeles Dodgers (2002-04), Pittsburgh Pirates (2005), San Diego Padres (2005), Cincinnati Reds (2006-08), Boston Red Sox (2008, 2013-14) and Atlanta Braves (2009-12). He is a career .233 hitter.
The right-handed hitter has been to the postseason four times in his career, first in 2004 with the Dodgers followed by a pair of appearances with the Braves in 2010 and 2012. In 2013, Ross won a World Championship with Boston, seeing action in eight games, including four World Series contests during the six-game win against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Earlier Tuesday, the Cubs claimed left-handed pitcher Mike Kickham from San Francisco, while catcher Ryan Lavarnway was claimed by Baltimore and first baseman Shane Peterson was claimed by Milwaukee.
Kickham, 26, is 31-35 with a 3.97 ERA in 99 career minor league games, all but four as a starter. Selected by the Giants in the sixth round of the 2010 Draft out of Missouri State University, Kickham has struck out 464 batters, good for an average of 8.0 strikeouts per 9.0 innings, and allowed 227 walks.
The 6-foot, 4-inch, 220-pound Kickham was 7-7 with a 4.31 ERA in 20 starts for Fresno in 2013.
Lavarnway, 27, was claimed off waivers by Chicago from Boston on Dec. 19. Peterson, 26, was claimed off waivers from Oakland the same day.