Braves sign catcher Chris Stewart

The Braves signed veteran catcher Chris Stewart to a one-year major league contract Wednesday, a non-guaranteed deal that will provides the team with more depth at a key position in case of injury.

Stewart, who’ll turn 36 next week, is a strong defensive catcher and pitch-framer who has a .230 career batting average with nine homers in 449 games over parts of 11 major league seasons, the past four with the Pirates. The Braves opened a spot on their 40-man roster by putting rehabbing reliever Grant Dayton (elbow surgery) on the 60-day disabled list.

Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos stressed that the move was made strictly to provide protection in case of injury to either of the Braves’ regular catchers, Tyler Flowers and Kurt Suzuki.