Cubs Claim Gonzalez Germen From Rangers

From a press release from the Cubs, we learn of the Cubs' newest pitcher, righthander Gonzalez Germen:

Germen, 27, is 1-2 with one save and a 4.31 ERA (31 ER/64.2 IP) in 54 relief appearances covering the last two seasons with the New York Mets. He has struck out 64 batters in 64.2 innings pitched while limiting opponents to a .248 batting average, including a .229 mark by right-handed hitters. Germen went 1-2 with one save and a 3.93 ERA (15 ER/34.1 IP) in 29 outings for the Mets in 2013 and posted no record and a 4.75 ERA (16 ER/30.1 IP) in 25 appearances in 2014.

The 6-foot-1, 202-pound Germen originally signed with the Mets as a non-drafted free agent in 2007. He is 38-31 with 10 saves and a 3.51 ERA (212 ER/543.1 IP) in 148 appearances (80 starts) in seven minor league seasons in the Mets farm system (2008-14).

Germen was designated for assignment by the Mets on December 15 and traded to the New York Yankees on December 19. He was then designated for assignment on January 13 and traded to the Texas Rangers on January 20.

Germen is a native of the Dominican Republic and will go into the bullpen mix in spring training. It is, of course, possible that the Cubs will play roster Jenga with him (as it appears a couple of other teams have done with him already this winter) and try to get him through waivers or a DFA before camp begins so they can add another player to the roster. But for now, he'll report to camp and it seems likely he'd be bullpen depth at Triple-A Iowa. As noted above, this move fills the 40-man roster to its limit.