The Chicago Cubs on Tuesday signed OF Reed Johnson to a $1.3 million, one-year contract.

Johnson, a 17th-round draft pick by Toronto in 1999, had been released by Blue Jays on Sunday after missing more than three months last season due to a herniated disc in his lower back. The Cubs reportedly hope Johnson will help out in center field – he started there on Tuesday against the Giants, going 2-for-5 with a double – as well as resting Kosuke Fukudome and Alfonso Soriano in right and left.

The Cubs also put RHP Angel Guzman on the 60-day DL because of an injury to his right elbow, and said that they expect southpaw Scott Eyre to start the season on the DL due to a bone spur in his left elbow.