Chicago Cubs sign reliever Alvarez to 1-year contract

An otherwise slow start to the off-season for the Cubs picked up a little steam Friday as they signed left-handed reliever Dario Alvarez to a one-year contract.

They also made news by deciding not to tender a contract to relief pitcher Hector Rondon. All other players were tendered contracts, including reliever Justin Grimm, who appeared to be another non-tender candidate.

The 28-year-old Alvarez will be joining his fourth team since he broke into the big leagues with the New York Mets in 2014. He also has pitched for the Atlanta Braves and Texas Rangers. This past season with the Rangers, he was 2-0 with a 2.76 ERA and a WHIP of 2.02 in 20 relief appearances for the Rangers.

For his career, he is 6-1 with a 5.06 ERA and a WHIP of 1.63 in 56 games, all in relief.

Rondon joined the Cubs for the 2013 season after being a Rule 5 draft pick from Cleveland the previous December.

He currently ranks sixth on the Cubs' all-time saves list with 77, trailing Lee Smith, Bruce Sutter, Carlos Marmol, Randy Myers and Ryan Dempster. Rondon was the Cubs' regular closer until the team acquired Aroldis Chapman for its World Series run in 2016.

This past season, Rondon was 4-1 with a 4.24 ERA in 61 games. He battled elbow soreness late in the season but recovered. The Cubs left him off the roster for the National League division series against Washington but put him back on for the championship series against the Dodgers. He took the loss in Game 1.

Grimm came to the Cubs in July 2013 trade with Texas for pitcher Matt Garza. This year, Grimm worked in 50 games, going 1-2 with a 5.53 ERA and a WHIP of 1.34. He did not participate in the postseason.

In addition to Grimm players eligible for salary arbitration who were tendered Cubs contracts were Kris Bryant, Tommy La Stella, Addison Russell, Kyle Hendricks and Justin Wilson.

Catcher Taylor Davis, who is not yet eligible for arbitration, was not tendered a contract.