In an apparent sign the Cubs are ready to move on without switch-hitter Dexter Fowler, the team announced Tuesday night it signed free agent Jon Jay to a one-year contract.
Jay, 31, a career .287 hitter with the St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Padres over seven seasons, is expected to earn $8 million.
Jay has a lifetime .352 on-base percentage and has batted higher than .290 in five of his seven seasons. Jay can play all three outfield positions but could share time in center field with Albert Almora Jr.
After being dealt from the Cardinals to the Padres for infielder Jedd Gyorko, the left-handed hitting Jay batted .291 with 26 doubles, two home runs and 26 RBIs despite playing only 90 games because of a broken right forearm.
Jay has a lifetime .344 on-base percentage as a leadoff hitter and .358 at the second spot.
Jay's defense, like Almora, is considered exceptional in center field _ a position occupied by Fowler for the past two seasons.
Jay has a career .996 fielding percentage in center _ the highest mark for any active player (minimum 500 games) at the position. Jay has played 594 games in center, 166 games in right and 80 games in left. His .995 fielding percentage at all three positions ties Jacoby Ellsbury for the best percentage among active outfielders.
In 2011, Jay batted .297 with a career-high 10 home runs in a career-high 159 games in leading the Cardinals to their last World Series title.
Jay posted a career-high .305 in 2012 and scored 75 runs and drove in 67 runs to help lead the Cardinals to the 2013 National League title.
The Cubs' 40-man roster stands at 38 players.
