The frugal Cubs continued their bargain hunting Friday with the signing of free agent reliever Ryan Tepera to a split contract worth $900,000 on the major-league side of the deal.
It’s the latest in a series of minor moves the Cubs have made this winter as they wait for the free agent market to wind down and give way to a more active trade market. It’s also their biggest acquisition of the offseason — the larger of their two major-league free agent signings (also reliever Dan Winkler, $750,000).
Their efforts to improve an 84-win roster are stuck in payroll-budget limbo until they can make a trade that moves significant salary off the books,
Tepera, 32, has spent all or parts of five seasons in the majors, all with the Blue Jays.