Cubs Sign Former Astro Dave Smith

The Chicago Cubs beefed up their bullpen today by signing free-agent reliever Dave Smith to a two-year contract with a third-year option.

Smith, 35, has spent his 11-season major-league career with the Houston Astros. The right-hander is 53-47 with 199 saves and a 2.53 ERA in 563 games.

“We’ve talked about stabilizing our late-relief situation many times in the last couple of months,” said Jim Frey, the Cubs’ executive vice president of baseball operations. “We needed a right-handed reliever to finish off games.

“Dave Smith is the type of player who has been very consistent over the years. His numbers and his record show consistency and a high level of performance. He should add the stability we’ve been looking for.”

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Smith was 6-6 last season with 23 saves and a 2.39 ERA in 49 games for the Astros. In 60 1/3 innings, he allowed 45 hits, 16 earned runs and 20 walks with 50 strikeouts.

Smith was selected to the National League All-Star team for the second time in his career. He finished the season tied for fourth in the league in saves and was seventh in games finished (42).

To make room for Smith on the 40-man roster, the team placed right-hander Randy Kramer on waivers.

Smith is the third free agent signed by the Cubs this off-season. Left-hander Danny Jackson was signed on Nov. 21 and left fielder George Bell signed on Dec. 6.