Cubs Activate Austin Romine, DFA Tony Wolters

Farewell, Tony Wolters, we hardly knew ye. The backup catcher was signed as a temporary insurance policy after primary backup Austin Romine was placed on the IL with a knee issue that popped up in camp, so it was only a matter of time before Wolters was designated for assignment. That came Wednesday after just five plate appearances over three games.

Romine, dubbed Texas Lettuce, certainly looks the part of a grizzled backstop after finally being allowed to sport facial fleece since escaping the Yankees’ draconian grooming policies last year. After more than a decade in New York’s system, the former second-round pick caught on with the Tigers before joining the Cubs this past winter.

Don’t expect much from Romine, who isn’t particularly proficient as a glovesmith or a batsman, but he should provide the Cubs with competent play every once in a while. Who knows, maybe he can etch his name on the long scroll of cult-hero backups that includes John Baker, Paul Bako, and Jim Sundberg.