The Cubs claimed RHP Gonzalez Germen off waivers from the Texas Rangers. The Cubs had a spot open on the 40-man roster after the trade Monday that sent INF Luis Valbuena and RHP Dan Straily to the Houston Astros for OF Dexter Fowler.
With the addition of Gonzalez Germen, the Cubs 40-man roster stands at 40 players.
The 27-year old right hander is well-traveled. The Cubs are his fourth team this winter. Germen was with the Mets in December before landing with the Yankees and then the Rangers.
Gonzalez Germen was 1-2 with one save, a 4.31 ERA (31 earned runs in 64 2/3 innings), a 1.42 WHIP and 4.15 FIP in 54 relief appearances covering the last two seasons with the New York Mets. He has struck out 64 batters with 30 walks in 64 2/3 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, a 3.93 ERA (15 earned run in 34 1/3 innings), a 1.40 WHIP and 2.90 FIP in 29 outings for the Mets in 2013 and posted no record and a 4.75 ERA (16 earned runs in 30 1/3 IP) with a 1.45 WHIP 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, a 3.51 ERA (212 earned runs in 543 1/3 innings) and a 1.18 WHIP in 148 appearances (80 starts) in seven minor league seasons in the Mets farm system (2008-14).
According to FanGraphs, Germen had the second-best changeup by swinging strike rate last year.
Gonzalez 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.
The Mets added Gonzalez Germen to its 40-man roster in November 2012. Germen has one minor league option left.