Cubs sign Jon Jay to 1-year, $8 million contract

The Cubs have signed outfielder Jon Jay to a 1-year, $8 million contract, a source tells SB Nation. The club has announced the deal.

Jay will likely platoon with Albert Almora in center for the Cubs, signaling the end of Dexter Fowler’s time with the club. Fowler, who is a free agent, is expected to command a multi-year deal from a club to be a starting center-fielder after winning a World Series with Chicago last season.

Jay is the first major addition to the champions’ roster, and comes over from the Padres after hitting .291/.339/.389 with two homers in 90 games for San Diego. Jay is a veteran of seven major-league seasons with the Cardinals (2010-15) and Padres (2016), and was shipped from St. Louis to San Diego last winter in exchange for Jedd Gyorko.

Jay dealt with a broken forearm for much of last season, but has been a contributor when healthy. For his career, the 31-year old is a .287/.352/.384 hitter with 31 home runs and 45 stolen bases.