Chicago Cubs sign left handed relief pitcher Joe Thatcher to a minor league contract

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Chris Cotillo reports the news the Chicago Cubs on Monday have signed former San Diego Padres left handed relief pitcher Joe Thatcher to a minor league contract. Thatcher has not pitched in the Major Leagues this season since he has been pitching for the minor league team of the Los Angeles Dodgers after he was not able to make the 25 man roster of the Cleveland Indians during the Spring Training sessions in 2016. Thatcher was released by the Dodgers management on June 2, 2016 while he was pitching for their AAA minor league team the Oklahoma City Dodgers in 2016. Thatcher had signed a minor league contract to pitch for the Cleveland Indians on July 21, 2016 but he did not pitch in any games for any of their minor league teams this year. The Cubs are in need of some relief pitching help during the remainder of the current baseball season and they feel that Thatcher, 34, will be able to boost their chances of making a playoff run this year if he makes the team. Thatcher will be sent to the Cubs AAA minor league team the Iowa Cubs to attempt a comeback this year after he pitched as a relief pitcher for the Houston Astros in 2015 before he entered the free agent market at the end of the 2015 baseball season.