ATLANTA -- The Cubs found a third catcher for the stretch run on Thursday when they acquired Bobby Wilson from the Twins for Minor League catcher Chris Gimenez and a player to be named later or cash.
To make room for Wilson on the 40-man roster, the Cubs designated right-hander Cory Mazzoni for assignment. Wilson will join the team over the weekend when rosters expand.
Wilson has been on the 10-day disabled list with a sprained right ankle since Friday and will be out at least another week, according to manager Joe Maddon. However, upon his return he will provide quality depth and a familiar face to the coaching staff.
Wilson, 35, has played for six Major League clubs, including the Rays in 2015 and '16, over parts of nine seasons. Cubs pitching coach Jim Hickey was with the Rays during that stretch and worked closely with Wilson -- he even still has one of Wilson's gloves that he brought out before Thursday's game against the Braves.
"When I had him with Tampa Bay, the pitchers loved throwing to Bobby," Hickey said. "He calls a really good game, he receives the ball well, he's adequate in terms of the running game and all that. He's a good, solid catcher."
Wilson is a career .208 hitter and slashed .178/.242/.281 in 47 games for the Twins this season. Gimenez, 35, appeared in 12 games for the Cubs this season and was outrighted off the club's 40-man roster in July.
Mazzoni, 28, held a 1.04 ERA over 8 2/3 innings with the Cubs and spent most of the season with Triple-A Iowa, where he held a 4.46 ERA over 38 1/3 innings.
Cubs make room for Montgomery
With Mike Montgomery returning from the disabled list to start on Thursday, the Cubs cleared room by optioning right-hander Alec Mills, who had been taking Montgomery's turn in the rotation. Mills will go to Iowa alongside fellow right-hander James Norwood, who was the 26th man in Wednesday's doubleheader.
AFL rosters announced
Arizona Fall League rosters were announced Thursday with the Cubs naming four prospects and a coach to the Mesa Solar Sox.
Leading the way is the Cubs' first-round pick from this year: No. 6 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, and shortstop Nico Hoerner. He was limited to 14 Minor League games before he was shut down because of an injury to the ligaments in his left elbow.
Joining Hoerner are outfielder D.J. Wilson (No. 16), second baseman Trent Giambrone (No. 29) and catcher P.J. Higgins (unranked). Class A South Bend manager Jimmy Gonzalez also joins Mesa as a hitting coach.
Reinforcements coming
Rosters are set to expand Saturday, when the calendar hits September, and the Cubs are expecting two players to return from injuries. Third baseman Kristopher Bryant (left shoulder discomfort) played in his final rehab game Thursday -- striking out twice -- and will not play Friday before joining the team on Saturday in Philadelphia.
Meanwhile, left-handed reliever Brian Duensing is progressing well from left shoulder inflammation. Maddon heard positive reports from his outing Wednesday -- 1 2/3 scoreless innings with just 17 pitches -- and expects Duensing to throw again on Friday before potentially rejoining the club soon.