CHICAGO, Jan. 16 (UPI) -- Alan Benes, who saw a once-promising career sidetracked by shoulder surgery, Wednesday signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs.
Financial terms of the deal, which includes an invite to spring training, were not disclosed. Benes made $925,000 last season in St. Louis.
After a campaign in which Benes went 2-0 with a 7.36 ERA in nine appearances, the Cardinals opted to let him go.
The 30-year-old Benes was among the top rookie pitchers in the game in 1996, going 13-10 with a 4.90 ERA. He went 9-9 with a 2.89 ERA the following season but had his year cut short by right shoulder surgery.
Benes underwent surgery in September 1997 and did not return until September 1999. Over the next two seasons he went just 2-4 in 39 major league appearances and spent most of the 2001 season at Class AAA Memphis, where he went 7-6 with a 3.55 ERA in 25 starts.
