Cubs claim pitcher from Giants

CHICAGO (AP) Catcher David Ross has agreed to a $5 million, two-year contract with the Chicago Cubs, reuniting him with batterymate Jon Lester.

The deal was announced Tuesday after an agreement was reached last week.

Ross gets a $550,000 signing bonus plus $2.25 million in salary in 2015 and 2016.

Ross often caught Lester in Boston the past two seasons, including both of the left-hander's starts in the 2013 World Series victory. Ross started behind the plate for Lester's last 11 starts this year before the Red Sox traded the pitcher to Oakland. Ross, who will turn 38 in spring training, hit .184 with seven home runs and 15 RBIs in 50 games for Boston last season.

The Cubs got two-time All-Star catcher Miguel Montero in a trade with Arizona this month and still have Welington Castillo behind the plate.

Chicago also claimed left-handed pitcher Mike Kickham off waivers from the San Francisco Giants and said catcher Ryan Lavarnway was claimed off waivers by Baltimore and first baseman Shane Peterson was claimed by Milwaukee.

Kickham made his major league debut with the Giants in 2013. He has pitched in 14 games and made three starts over the past two seasons for San Francisco, going 0-3 with a 10.98 ERA.

He spent most of last season at Triple-A Fresno.