Cubs, outfielder Chris Denorfia agree to terms on one-year contract

CHICAGO - The Chicago Cubs and outfielder Chris Denorfia have agreed to terms on a one-year contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. To make room for Denorfia on the 40-man roster, left-handed pitcher Mike Kickham was designated for assignment. 

Denorfia, 34, is a career .272 hitter (530-for-1,950) in 705 major league games covering all or part of nine seasons with the Cincinnati Reds (2005-06), Oakland Athletics (2008-09), San Diego Padres (2010-14) and Seattle Mariners (2014). He has averaged 21 doubles, four triples, nine home runs and 13 stolen bases per 162 games played while turning in a career .331 on-base percentage and a .394 slugging percentage, good for a .725 OPS. Denorfia has played 352 big league games in right field, 248 games in left field and 164 games in center field.

The right-handed hitter is a career .292 hitter (240-for-823) with 19 home runs, 85 RBI, a .358 on-base percentage and a .430 slugging percentage vs. left-handed pitching. He has also excelled in games vs. the National League Central (.298 career batting average) and in games at Wrigley Field (.339 career batting average). 

Denorfia began the 2014 campaign in San Diego before he was acquired by Seattle at the July 31 trade deadline. He combined to hit .230 (76-for-330) with 12 doubles, three home runs and 21 RBI in 121 games between the two stops. Denorfia had a career-best .293 batting average (102-for-348) and .796 OPS in 130 games for the Padres in 2012 and hit 10 home runs in 144 games for the Padres in 2013, both career highs.

A native of Bristol, Conn., Denorfia was originally selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 19th round of the 2002 Draft out of Wheaton College.

Kickham, 26, was claimed off waivers from the San Francisco Giants last December 23. He is 31-35 with a 3.97 ERA (231 ER/523.2 IP) in 99 career minor league games, all but four as a starter.