Tucker Barnhart was signed as a Free Agent to help out with the catching, with the emphasis on defense. He’s theoretically a switch-hitter (though he’s gone back to lefty-only this year) but isn’t especially good from either side, as a .245 lifetime batter with a .359 slugging percentage who averages about 10 home runs per annum.
The 32-year-old pairs with 35-year-old Yan Gomes in the Cubs’ backstop crew, which also includes the elusive Luis Torrens. In 10 years as a major-leaguer with the Cincinnati Reds, Barnhart has accounted for a total of 7.1 WAR (4.