The Chicago Cubs today claimed catcher Rene Rivera off waivers from the New York Mets. To make room for Rivera on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Aaron Brooks has been designated for assignment.
Rivera, 34, has played all or part of nine major league seasons with the Seattle Mariners (2004-06), Minnesota Twins (2011), San Diego Padres (2013-14), Tampa Bay Rays (2015) and New York Mets (2016-17) and is a career .215 hitter (274-for-1,272) with 53 doubles, 34 homers and 141 RBI in 453 games. With the Mets this season, he is batting .230 (40-for-174) with eight homers and 23 RBI in 54 games.
Behind the plate, Rivera has thrown out 10-of-31 runners attempting to steal this season, a 32.3 percent success rate, which would tie for third-best in the National League if he had enough games played to qualify. His success rate this year mirrors his career totals, as he has thrown out 97-of-300 runners attempting to steal, 32.3 percent.
Rivera is a native of Bayamon, Puerto Rico and enjoyed his best major league campaign in 2014 with the Padres when he batted .252 (74-for-294) and established career highs with 18 doubles, 11 homers and 44 RBI in 103 games.
Brooks, 27, has gone 8-9 with a 6.20 ERA (95 ER/138.0 IP) in 24 starts with Triple-A Iowa this season.