Cubs claim righthander Gonzalez Germen off waivers from the Texas Rangers

CHICAGO - The Chicago Cubs today claimed right-handed pitcher Gonzalez Germen off waivers from the Texas Rangers. The club's 40-man roster now stands at 40 players.

Germen, 27, is 1-2 with one save and a 4.31 ERA (31 ER/64.2 IP) in 54 relief appearances covering the last two seasons with the New York Mets. He has struck out 64 batters in 64.2 innings pitched while limiting opponents to a .248 batting average, including a .229 mark by right-handed hitters. Germen went 1-2 with one save and a 3.93 ERA (15 ER/34.1 IP) in 29 outings for the Mets in 2013 and posted no record and a 4.75 ERA (16 ER/30.1 IP) in 25 appearances in 2014.

The 6-foot-1, 202-pound Germen originally signed with the Mets as a non-drafted free agent in 2007. He is 38-31 with 10 saves and a 3.51 ERA (212 ER/543.1 IP) in 148 appearances (80 starts) in seven minor league seasons in the Mets farm system (2008-14).

Germen was designated for assignment by the Mets on December 15 and traded to the New York Yankees on December 19. He was then designated for assignment on January 13 and traded to the Texas Rangers on January 20.