Report: Cubs agree to $4.5 million deal with Koji Uehara

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. – The Cubs efforts to stockpile bullpen depth continued with reports Thursday they’ve reached agreement with Red Sox free agent right-hander Koji Uehara on a one-year, $4.5 million deal.

Uehara, 41, was the Red Sox closer from 2012 to 2014, winning a World Series with Boston in 2013.

He has a 2.53 ERA and one All-Star appearance in eight big-league seasons. He’s attractive to the Cubs in large part because of his effectiveness against left-handers (.183 career batting against and .555 OPS vs. .208 and .603).

The Cubs last week signed free agent left-hander Brian Duensing to a one-year, $2 million deal. And this week at the annual winter meetings they traded outfielder Jorge Soler to the Royals for closer Wade Davis.

They also acquired Class AA left-hander Caleb Smith from the Brewers for cash after the Brewers selected Smith in Thursday’s Rule 5 draft.