Cubs, right-handed pitcher Jason Motte agree to terms on one-year contract

CHICAGO - The Chicago Cubs and right-handed pitcher Jason Motte have agreed to terms on a 2015 contract.   Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Motte, 32, is 18-13 with 54 saves, 50 holds and a 3.03 ERA (96 ER/285.0 IP) in 311 relief appearances covering all or part of six major league seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals (2008-12, 2014). He has struck out 290 batters while walking only 86 in 285.0 innings pitched and has turned in a 1.11 WHIP. He has limited opponents to a .222 batting average, including a .217 mark by right-handed hitters and a .229 average by lefthanders.

In a three-year span from 2010-12, Motte went 13-9 with 53 saves and a 2.43 ERA (52 ER/192.1 IP) in 201 relief outings. He posted a career-best 2.24 ERA (13 ER/52.1 IP) in 2010 before helping the Cardinals to the World Series championship in 2011 with a 2.25 ERA (17 ER/68.0 IP), nine saves and a career-high 18 holds in a career-best 78 relief appearances. He was on the mound to close out the decisive seventh game of the World Series, capping a post-season during which he turned in a 2.19 ERA (3 ER/12.1 IP) and five saves.

Motte took over full time closer duties in 2012 and tied for the National League lead with 42 saves, going 4-5 with a 2.75 ERA (22 ER/72.0 IP) in 67 appearances. The next year he suffered a right elbow injury on March 21 that ultimately required Tommy John surgery on May 7, forcing him to miss the entire 2013 campaign. Motte returned to the mound last season and went 1-0 with a 4.68 ERA (13 ER/25.0 IP) in 29 major league outings.

A native of Port Huron, Mich., Motte was originally selected by the Cardinals in the 19th round of the 2003 Draft as a catcher. He began his conversion to pitcher during the 2006 campaign and was in the big leagues by the 2008 season, posting a 0.82 ERA (1 ER/11.0 IP) in 12 appearances for the Cardinals.

Motte is the founder of the Jason Motte Foundation, whose mission is to provide comfort and care where there is a need for those affected by cancer of all kinds. His "K Cancer" campaign last season raised awareness and participation throughout Major League Baseball and beyond, and Motte was nominated for the 2014 Roberto Clemente Award, the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award and the Branch Rickey Award.