Braves sign catcher Chris Stewart

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – 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.

Stewart, who’ll be 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 the 40-man roster by placing 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 depth and protection in case of injury to either of the Braves regular catchers, Tyler Flowers and Kurt Suzuki. Flowers had surgery on his left forearm and his left wrist after the season, but has been cleared to play and has no restrictions this spring.