July 2018 - Chicago Cubs Wiretap

The Chicago Cubs have agreed to a deal with free-agent right-hander Kendall Graveman, a source told ESPN's Jesse Rogers on Saturday.

The 28-year-old Graveman, who is still rehabbing after having Tommy John surgery in late July, will receive at least $575,000 for 2019 and has a $3 million club option for 2020, according to multiple reports.

The Chicago Cubs have agreed to a two-year, $5 million deal with Daniel Descalso that includes a club option for 2021.

Descalso gets $1.5 million next year and $2.5 million in 2020. The club option is for $3.5 million with a $1 million buyout.

He can also earn $250,000 annually in performance bonuses based on plate appearances: $50,000 each for 425, 450 and 475, and $100,000 for 500.

The Chicago Cubs are searching for another David Ross after suffering from a lack of leadership in the clubhouse this past season.

Ross brought leadership to a Cubs' team that won the World Series and he hasn't been replaced.

"We didn't have anyone like that on the roster last year," Jed Hoyer said. "I did think there was a bit of a void, to be honest with you. That's not to say we don't have a bunch of guys that have leadership qualities. We absolutely do, but we have such a young group. Having someone that's been through the game a little bit longer, with more perspective, that can help out with some of the difficult times, is important. We had that in '15, '16, '17. We were lacking that last year."

Hoyer praised Jon Jay for his role in 2017, but Jay didn't return in '18, opening the leadership void.

"I think it was a miscalculation on our part," Hoyer said. "We felt we were at a place where those things would take care of themselves because we had this group together for so long. We realized that wasn't accurate."

Chili Davis has been hired as hitting coach of the New York Mets after spending last season in that role with the Chicago Cubs.

Davis was hitting coach for Oakland manager Bob Melvin (2012-14) and Boston manager John Farrell (2015-17) before moving to the Cubs under manager Joe Maddon.

The Cubs on Friday tendered a contract to suspended shortstop Addison Russell, who is eligible for arbitration.

Russell, 25, will miss the first month of the season after accepting a 40-game suspension late in 2018 after his ex-wife Melisa Reidy accused him of domestic abuse in a blog post.