Todd Wellemeyer Signs With Cubs As Potential Long Reliever

For the last little while, the Chicago Cubs have been in search of some help in the long relief department. In an attempt to address a perceived deficiency, on Tuesday the team signed veteran righty Todd Wellemeyer.

Wellemeyer will receive a non-guaranteed one-year contract worth $800,000 in the event that he makes the team and sticks. There are an additional $400,000 in incentives, presumably based on playing time. It's a very similar contract to the one he signed with the Giants a year ago, when he came aboard on a minor league contract and earned $1 million when he made the roster.

The 32-year-old Wellemeyer was drafted by the Cubs and spent the first three years of his big league career in the Chicago bullpen. More recently, he's been a starter for the Cardinals and Giants, but he's posted a 5.82 ERA over the past two seasons. He's able to get his fastball into the low-90s and his slider is effective, but lefties have hurt him consistently. Should Wellemeyer make the Cubs' bullpen, the team will hope that it can pick his spots and keep him from getting exposed.