The Chicago Cubs made the first move to bolster their starting rotation for the 2013 season, agreeing to a one-year deal with free-agent right-hander Scott Baker. The deal is worth a base salary of $5.5 million plus up to $1.5 million in performance incentives, per the Chicago Tribune.
Cubs sign Scott Baker to 1-year contract
The veteran right-hander missed all of 2012 recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Ronald Martinez
The move to Chicago's north side will be Baker's first foray into the National League, and his first move away from Minneapolis/St. Paul. Baker was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the second round of the 2003 draft and spent seven seasons in the Twin Cities, posting a 63-48 win-loss record, 4.15 ERA and a 3.44 strikeout-to-walk ratio in that time.
Baker, 31, missed all of the 2012 season recovering from Tommy John surgery performed in mid-April, but could be back on the mound by spring training if all goes well. The Twins had shown interest in bringing Baker back to the club even after declining his $9.25-million option for next season, but the Cubs swooped in and took the right-hander off the market.
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