Cubs agree to deal with left-handed reliever

Jerome Miron / USATODAY

by Press Release - Friday, December 1, 2017, 12:44 PM

CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs and left-handed pitcher Dario Alvarez have agreed to terms on a one-year contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Alvarez, 28, went 2-0 with three holds and a 2.76 ERA (5 ER/16.1 IP) in 20 relief appearances with the Texas Rangers in 2017, striking out 17 batters in 16.1 innings pitched. He also made 18 outings, 17 in relief, with Triple-A Round Rock last season, going 2-0 with a 2.33 ERA (7 ER/27.0 IP), striking out 36 batters in 27.0 innings, an average of 12.0 strikeouts per nine innings.

Overall, Alvarez has spent all or part of four seasons in the majors with the New York Mets (2014-15), the Atlanta Braves (2016) and the Rangers (2016-17), going 6-1 with a 5.06 ERA (27 ER/48.0 IP) in 56 relief outings. He is 27-17 with five saves and a 2.92 ERA (131 ER/404.1 IP) in 181 career minor league appearances, 136 in relief.

Alvarez is a native of Santiago, Dominican Republic.