Cubs add Motte to bullpen
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - The Chicago Cubs and pitcher Jason Motte agreed to terms on a one-year contract Friday.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the Chicago Tribune reported it to be worth $4.5 million.
Motte was the closer for the St. Louis Cardinals before undergoing Tommy John surgery during the 2013 season. He returned last year and was 1-0 with a 4.68 earned run average in 29 games.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The 32-year-old right-hander owns a career record of 18-13 with 54 saves and a 3.03 ERA in 311 relief appearances -- all with St. Louis -- from 2008-14. He has 290 strikeouts in 285 innings pitched.
Motte helped the Cardinals to the 2011 World Series championship, closing out Game 7 against Texas to cap a postseason in which he produced five saves and a 2.19 ERA in 12 games.
In 2012, Motte tied for the National League lead with 42 saves and posted a record of 4-5 with a 2.75 ERA in 67 games. He developed an elbow injury in spring training the following year and eventually underwent surgery in May, forcing him to miss the entire 2013 season.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Cubs will likely employ Motte as a setup man for Hector Rondon, who notched 29 saves last season.