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Chris Gimenez is a 35-year-old catcher, who has played in a total of 366 MLB games, but he might be the final piece in the Chicago Cubs plan to sign Yu Darvish. The Cubs have reportedly signed the journeyman catcher to a minor-league deal, but there could be more to this acquisition.
Free-agent catcher Chris Gimenez is signing with the Cubs, source tells SB Nation.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) January 23, 2018
Ken Rosenthal added that Gimenez has a good shot to make the Cubs 25-man roster as the backup to Willson Contreras.
Source confirms: Free-agent catcher Chris Gimenez to #Cubs on minor-league deal. Chance to make the team ahead of Caratini as the backup to Contreras. First reported: @ChrisCotillo.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 23, 2018
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Those chances become higher if the Cubs do end up signing Darvish and that’s because Gimenez is apparently really close to the pitcher and is his favorite catcher.
If you're gonna lean solely on numbers, get 'em right.
They were paired 12 times in MLB w/ 3.29 ERA. Gimenez also caught all his bullpens in extended spring of 2016 as Darvish worked back from Tommy John. Darvish has told friends Gimenez is his all-time favorite catcher. https://t.co/JUaocNElOR
— Mike Berardino (@MikeBerardino) January 23, 2018
I don’t think Gimenez is going to be the most important part of the Cubs’ pitch to Darvish, but it certainly has to help, right? The ironic part is that Gimenez was let go by the Minnesota Twins, who are also trying to sign Darvish. Imagine if this does become the difference, though, that’d be pretty funny.
Gimenez has spent his entire MLB career in the American League, playing for the Cleveland Indians, Seattle Mariners, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers and the Twins. He has a career slash line of .218/.309/.345. Last year with Minnesota, Gimenez hit seven home runs and had a pretty good .350 OBP in 186 at bats.
I know there are several Cubs fans, myself included, that were looking forward to possibly seeing Caratini up the entire year as the backup catcher, but if Gimenez can get Darvish to the North Side, then this will be a great move.
David Ross part two? Let’s all hope so.