According to a report from Ken Rosenthal, the Cubs signed infielder Chris Valaika to a minor league contract that includes a non-roster invitation to Major League Spring Training.
Chris Valaika spent last season in the Marlins system and played in 22 games at the big league level for Miami.
The 28-year old Chris Valaika broke into the majors with the Reds in 2010 after Cincinnati selected him in the third round of the 2006 draft. Valaika hit .280/.333/.400 with a double and a triple in 14 games for the Reds in 2011.
Valaika played in just 88 games in the Reds system in 2012 and hit .219/.265/.349 with 14 doubles, two triples and seven home runs. At Triple-A Louisville, Valaika put together a .223/.268/.347 slash line in 2012.
Chris Valaika hit .219/.261/.344 with five doubles and one home run in 22 games for the Marlins last season. Valaika can play shortstop and second base and prior to the 2010 season, Baseball America ranked Valaika as the 12th best prospect in a stacked Reds’ system.
Chris Valaika’s agent, Joel Wolfe, told Ken Rosenthal that Valaika is “very excited to be with a first-class organization.”
Chris Valaika’s Page on Baseball-Reference
Chris Valaika joins outfielder Aaron Cunningham and catcher Eli Whiteside as players that have signed minor league contracts with the Cubs this winter with non-roster invites to big league camp.
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