I'm not sure what to make of this move -- the Cubs have added another catcher to their 40-man roster, claiming Max Ramirez off waivers from the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox just got him last week off waivers from the Rangers, where he split time between Triple-A and the major league team.
From the Cubs press release:
Ramirez played 56 games with Oklahoma City, batting .286 (54-for-189) with nine doubles, three home runs, 29 RBI and a .373 on-base percentage. In 28 games in the big leagues last year, Ramirez batted .217 (15-for-69) with three doubles, two home runs, eight RBI and a .341 on-base percentage.
A native of Barquisimeto, Venezuela, Ramirez was originally signed by the Atlanta Braves as a non-drafted free agent on October 1, 2002. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Ramirez spent one season in the Cleveland organization after being acquired for pitcher Bob Wickman on July 20, 2006. He joined the Rangers on July 27, 2007 in the trade that sent outfielder Kenny Lofton to Cleveland.
He draws a fair number of walks and doesn't strike out much and at least in the lower minors, had some mid-range power. He'll compete for the backup job, I suppose, and at the very least gives some catching depth at Iowa.