The Cubs have agreed to a one-year, $2MM deal with free agent lefty Brian Duensing, according to Jon Heyman of Fan Rag (Twitter links). Chicago has announced the signing.

Duensing, 33, spent much of the 2016 season in the minors. But he performed rather well there — with a 2.23 ERA and 9.5 K/9 versus 1.7 BB/9 over 32 1/3 innings — and earned a late-season promotion with the Orioles. In fourteen appearances for Baltimore, Duensing allowed six earned runs on 13 hits while recording ten hits against three walks.

Chicago had a need on the southpaw side of its pen, particularly assuming that Mike Montgomery will become a part of the rotation. But it’s still a bit surprising to see the defending World Series champs place a bet on Duensing, who is perhaps best characterized as a steadily useful arm. Over his eight-year major league career — the vast bulk of which came with the Twins — he has allowed 4.13 earned per regulation game while striking out 5.9 and walking 2.9 batters per nine to go with a solid (but hardly world-beating 46.3% groundball rate).