CHICAGO • After Friday's loss to the Cubs, the Cardinals made a move that hints at the addition of a catcher before Saturday's game at Wrigley Field.

The addition is free-agent A.J. Pierzynski.

The Cardinals and Pierzynski were working on a deal Friday night, and the catcher was expected to join the team Saturday in Chicago. A source said Pierzynski was in Cooperstown, N.Y., for the Hall of Fame inductions. Multiple sources with knowledge of an imminent deal confirmed that he was set to join the Cardinals.

The club expects to announce the deal with Pierzynski on Saturday.

George Kottaras, who was added just before the All-Star break, had packed his gear and was leaving the team. The exact roster move was not clear Friday night. The team did not have any official announcement about the move. The Cardinals had expressed reluctance to pursue Pierzynski when he was available, putting a roster claim instead on Kottaras.

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