Former Cub Albert Almora signs minor league deal with Diamondbacks
Former Cub Albert Almora signs minor league deal with Diamondbacks originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
After spending the 2023 season away from professional baseball, a member of the 2016 World Series-winning Chicago Cubs has found a new home on a minor league deal for 2024.
According to the Arizona Diamondbacks, former Cubs outfielder Albert Almora has signed a minor league deal with the club that includes an invite to big league spring training.
Almora, 30 in April, last played in the big leagues in 2022 with the Cincinnati Reds, appearing in 64 games while posting a .223/.282/.349 slash line with just a 73 OPS+.
Never known to be a particularly imposing hitter, most of Almora’s value has come with his glove, providing above average metrics at all three outfield positions throughout his time in MLB.
Initially debuting with the Cubs in 2016, Almora appeared in 489 games with the North Siders from 2016-2020, compiling a .271/.309/.398 slash line in Cubbie Blue to go alongside 2.6 defensive WAR.
In between his stints in Chicago and Cincinnati, Almora appeared in 47 games with the New York Mets in 2021, going just 6-for-52 at the plate in that time.
The Diamondbacks will look to Almora to improve their defensive outfield core while adding another right-handed bat to their depth chart.
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Hear play-by-play announcer John Schriffen call his first White Sox home run
Hear play-by-play announcer John Schriffen call his first White Sox home run originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
The Chicago White Sox opened their Cactus League slate Friday afternoon against the Cubs in Mesa, Arizona, which means White Sox fans got a first dose of the team’s new play-by-play announcer, John Schriffen.
Jesse Chavez and the White Sox took a shelling in the bottom of the first, but Schriffen got a chance to show off his chops in the second inning when designated hitter Tim Elko — who had two MLB plate appearances last season — homered to right field.
The six runs scored in the first inning by the Cubs would be more than enough, as the North Siders went on to rout the White Sox 8-1.
Chicago’s two teams meet again at Sloan Park on March 1.
