The Chicago Cubs have reached an agreement with utilityman Jon Berti on a one-year, $2 million contract, a league source confirmed to The Athletic on Thursday, adding to their bench before the start of spring training.
Berti’s deal, which was first reported by FanSided and MLB.com, is pending a physical and includes $1.3 million in potential performance bonuses.
The 35-year-old can move around an infield that’s currently projected to have a rookie at third base (Matt Shaw) and two Gold Glove defenders recovering from offseason surgeries (Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson). If needed, Berti also has some major-league experience at all three outfield positions.
In November, the New York Yankees non-tendered Berti after a 2024 season that was limited by injuries and put him in line for a salary approaching $4 million via the arbitration system. The Yankees utilized him in two playoff rounds last October.
A 2011 18th-round pick by the Toronto Blue Jays, Berti went to high school in suburban Detroit and played college baseball at Bowling Green. He eventually latched on with the Miami Marlins and found a role as a slightly below-average hitter (92 OPS+), who made positive contributions with his speed, defense and versatility.
Berti produced 2.4 WAR (per Baseball Reference) in each of his last two seasons with the Marlins. He notched 41 stolen bases in 2022 and then posted a .748 OPS across 133 games in 2023. That Marlins team finished with 84 wins and edged out the Cubs for a wild-card spot in the 2023 National League playoffs.
(Top photo: Mike Stobe / Getty Images)
