Cubs reportedly sign Simmons; Ross gets contract extension

While rumors on star free-agent Carlos Correa have resumed after the lockout ended, the Cubs reportedly added another shortstop on Friday.

Andrelton Simmons, a four-time Gold Glove winner, is joining the Cubs on a one-year, $4 million contract that includes incentives.

The 32-year-old Simmons has played 10 seasons with the Braves, Angels and Twins and has always been an elite defender.

Offensively, Simmons tailed way off last season with Minnesota, batting a career-low .223/.283/.274 with 3 home runs and 31 RBI in 131 games.

He's a lifetime .265/.313/.369 hitter with 70 homers and 437 RBI.

Simmons played for the Twins last season on a one-year, $10.5 million contract. As it stands now, he'll compete with Nico Hoerner for playing time at shortstop.

Coming out of the lockout, the Cubs moved quickly Friday with a signing announcement.

Sticking around:

Manager David Ross was given a contract extension, a three-year deal with a club option for 2025.

"I didn't get too stressed about it," Ross told reporters as Cubs players began reporting to spring training in Mesa, Ariz. "But it's always nice when the organization has confidence in me, (president) Jed (Hoyer) and (chairman) Tom (Ricketts) and the whole front office. To feel like they believe in you and have confidence in you, that's always nice. I know the uncertainty of this seat sometimes."

After replacing Joe Maddon in 2020, Ross guided the Cubs to a 34-26 record and first-place finish in the NL Central during a season shortened by COVID-19. That was good enough for a third-place finish in Manager of the Year voting.

The Cubs dropped to 71-91 last season and finished fourth in the Central while trading away key players like Yu Darvish, Kris Bryant, Javier Baez and Anthony Rizzo.

Ross, who celebrates his 45th birthday next week, was a major-league catcher for 15 seasons. He played for the Cubs in 2015-16 and won a World Series ring in his final year before retiring.