Cubs ink Austin Romine on reported 1-year, $1.5M deal

The Chicago Cubs have added some catching depth, agreeing to a one-year deal with free-agent backstop Austin Romine, the club announced Saturday.

The contract is worth $1.5 million, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago.

Romine, 32, spent last season with the Detroit Tigers following eight years with the New York Yankees.

He'll likely back up Willson Contreras after the Cubs traded Victor Caratini to the San Diego Padres in December.

The California native hit .238/.259/.323 with two home runs and 17 RBIs in 37 games for the Tigers last season.

Romine also threw out 21% of base-stealers without making an error.