Catcher David Ross to join Cubs, reunite with Jon Lester

Not to suggest Jon Lester has any pull with the Chicago Cubs after signing a six-year, $155 million contract, but he surely can’t be disappointed to hear veteran catcher David Ross will be joining him. According to Fox Sports Ken Rosenthal, Ross and the Cubs have agreed to a two-year, $5 million deal, which means the former Boston Red Sox battery will be reunited on the north side.

It’s not a signing that will steal headlines or earn lengthy discussion on television. The 37-year-old backstop has essentially been a backup throughout his 13-year career. Ross appeared in 90 and 112 games respectively for the Cincinnati Reds in 2006 and 2007, but never topped 70 games in any other season. He’s a .233/.318/.435 career hitter with 95 home runs, 38 of which came in those two years with Cincinnati.

He had two separate stints with the Red Sox. In 2008, he appeared in eight games after being released by Cincinnati. After four seasons with the Atlanta Braves, he returned to Boston in a backup role in 2013. In two seasons, he appeared in 86 games, hitting .197/.276/.374 with 11 home runs and 25 RBIs.

Not that any of those stats matter to Chicago, because it was during that return that a relationship between Ross and Jon Lester blossomed, leading to some of the left-handed ace’s best numbers. Of Ross’ 86 games in Boston, 29 were Lester starts. Lester posted a 2.77 ERA overall and a sparkling 1.33 ERA in four postseason games. 

Even with Miguel Montero on board, it’s assumed Ross will become Lester’s regular catcher. Familiarity, comfort and trust go a long way sometimes, and they will likely be in play here. Overall, the right-handed hitting Ross serves as a nice compliment to the left-handed slugging Montero, so it’s not as if Chicago is creating a roster bind to accommodate the signing.

It makes sense. It’s a nice fit. Now they just have to find a trade partner for Wellington Castillo, who’s expendable to them but possibly valuable to someone else coming off two decent seasons as Chicago’s starter. Just beware, teams needing a catcher. Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer have had a pretty hot hand at the trade table recently. You can ask Billy Beane all about that. 

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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813