CHICAGO -- In an effort to shake up their taxed and struggling bullpen, the Cubs selected the contract of veteran right-handed pitcher Joel Peralta from Triple-A Iowa on Monday. The Cubs optioned rookie lefty Gerardo Concepcion to Iowa in a corresponding move.
Signed to a Minor League contract June 13, Peralta was designated for assignment by the Mariners on June 2 after posting a 5.40 ERA in 26 appearances for Seattle. A 12-year veteran, Peralta owns a 4.00 ERA over 615 career games and 644 innings for the Angels, Royals, Rockies, Nationals, Rays, Dodgers and Mariners.
"It feels great, it feels awesome to be here," Peralta said. "It feels today, actually, today, I told my wife, it feels like this is the day that I got called up."
The best years of Peralta's career came from 2011-13 with the Rays under now-Cubs manager Joe Maddon, when the reliever posted a 3.32 ERA over 227 appearances.
"I'm going to tell you one thing, whatever is left, it's [Maddon's]," Peralta said. "Whatever's left, he's going to have it all. It's a sign of appreciation for him. I'm going to try to do my best to be in shape and be ready for every day. If I'm doing good, he knows that he can throw me out there every day."
The Cubs have lost six of seven games entering Monday. Chicago relievers have allowed 11 earned runs on 15 hits over 10 2/3 innings over the team's last four losses. The Cubs' bullpen ERA has risen over each month of the season, from 2.72 in April to 3.80 in May to its June mark of 4.21.
Although Peralta is a righty, he's been tough on lefties throughout his career, holding them to a .225/.294/.404 line. He will fill that role in the Cubs' bullpen, but Maddon is equally excited about Peralta's veteran experience in the relief corps and likened it to the experience that David Ross has brought to the catchers.
"He's good and he's still very functional, but beyond that, he really adds to the group," Maddon said. "He's almost like having another coach. I felt that way with the Rays. It is so much in the clubhouse and in the bullpen, he's really good with bullpen guys, too. So beyond being able to still perform on the mound."
Worth noting
• Catcher Tim Federowicz cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Iowa on Monday. Federowicz was designated for assignment last week to make room for rookie catcher Willson Contreras.