Cubs select the contracts of LHP Clayton Richard and catcher Taylor Teagarden

CHICAGO - The Chicago Cubs today selected the contracts of left-handed pitcher Clayton Richard and catcher Taylor Teagarden from Triple-A Iowa. Catcher David Ross has been placed on the seven-day concussion disabled list (retroactive to July 2) and right-handed pitcher Donn Roach was optioned to Triple-A Iowa. To make room on the 40-man roster, infielder Tommy La Stella has been transferred to the 60-day disabled list and right-handed pitcher Gonzalez Germen has been designated for assignment.

Both Richard, who will wear uniform number 33, and Teagarden, who will wear uniform number 27, will be available for tonight's game, with Richard making the start against the Miami Marlins.

Richard, 31, was acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates yesterday for a cash consideration. He has gone 4-2 with a 2.09 ERA (13 ER/56.0 IP) in nine starts this season with Triple-A Indianapolis as he continued his return from left shoulder surgery in June of 2013. Prior to the surgery, Richard pitched in all or part of six major league seasons with the Chicago White Sox (2008-09) and San Diego Padres (2009-13), going 46-47 with a 4.33 ERA (372 ER/773.1 IP) in 147 appearances, including 129 starts.

In a three-season span from 2010-12 with San Diego, Richard twice won 14 games (2010 and 2012), led the N.L. with 33 starts in 2012 and posted a sub-4.00 ERA in all three campaigns. During that span, Richard combined to go 33-32 with a 3.88 ERA (224 ER/520.0 IP) in 84 starts. He was limited to 12 appearances (11 starts) in 2013 before being placed on the disabled list for the rest of the season on June 22. He signed a minor league contract with Arizona last July and made four minor league starts before signing a minor league deal with Pittsburgh this past offseason.

Teagarden, 31, has appeared in parts of the last seven seasons with Texas (2008-11), Baltimore (2012-13) and the New York Mets (2014), batting .202 (100-for-495) with 21 home runs and 68 RBI in 172 games. The right-handed batter batted .143 (4-for-28) in nine games for the Mets last season. Teagarden saw his most extensive big league action with the Rangers in 2009, when he hit .217 (43-for-198) with 13 doubles, six homers and 24 RBI in 60 games.

The 6-foot, 210-pound Teagarden is batting .294 (37-for-126) with four homers and 19 RBI in 43 games with Iowa this season. He was originally selected by Texas in the third round of the 2005 Draft out of the University of Texas.

Ross, 38, is batting .189 (14-for-74) with seven doubles and four RBI in 38 games this season. He owns a 2.56 catchers ERA (53 ER/186.1 IP) in his 28 games (22 starts) behind the plate.

Roach, 25, went 0-1 with a 10.80 ERA (4 ER/3.1 IP) in his one start with the Cubs. He is 7-1 with a 2.29 ERA (21 ER/82.2 IP) in 14 starts with Iowa this season.

Germen, 27, is 5-1 with four saves and a 3.78 ERA (14 ER/33.1 IP) in 24 outings with Iowa this season. He posted no record and a 7.50 ERA (5 ER/6.0 IP) in six relief appearances for the Cubs earlier this season.