After completing a blockbuster deal for Kyle Tucker earlier in the day, the Cubs dipped into the free agent market to boost their catching depth.

The team came to terms with veteran backstop Carson Kelly on a 2-year deal Friday.

Kelly, 30, started the 2024 season with Detroit before being traded to the Rangers in late July. He slashed .238/.313/.374 (.687 OPS) with 9 home runs and 37 RBI. Kelly is coming off his best season since his 2021 campaign with Arizona, where he had a .754 OPS and 13 home runs.

The former 2nd-round pick is a lifetime .224/.307/.373 hitter with 54 home runs and 207 RBI.

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The right-handed-hitting Kelly gives manager Craig Counsell and the Cubs another backstop option to pair with Miguel Amaya. Amaya ended the season on a tear after dropping his leg kick in favor of a toe tap during his swing. Over his last 54 games, Amaya slashed .282/.331/.468 with a 124 weighted runs created plus, 24 percentage points above league average, 6 home runs and 32 RBI.

But the Cubs were always looking for a complementary piece with Amaya behind the plate. The team traded for Matt Thaiss earlier in the offseason from the Angels, but he’s a converted catcher who didn’t man the position in a more regular role until 2023.

One of the Cubs’ pursuits this offseason was a catcher who could split the duties behind the plate equally. That would allow both Amaya and — in this case now, Kelly — to remain fresh throughout the season and matchup them up to situations where they could thrive.

Kelly is a solid defender behind the plate, too.

He nabbed 26.3% of would-be base stealers, nearly 5 percentage points above league average. In 2023 he had a caught stealing percentage of 26.8%, 7 percentage points above league average.