A familiar name is coming back to the Cubs.

The team has agreed to a minor-league deal with right-handed pitcher Yency Almonte, ESPN’s Jesse Rogers reports.

Almonte appeared in 17 games for the Cubs in 2024, posting a 3.45 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP with 20 strikeouts and a save before landing on the IL with a shoulder strain in May.

He went on a rehab assignment, but the injury persisted and was forced to undergo shoulder surgery that wiped out the rest of his season.

Almonte was expected to miss a chunk of the 2025 season, so bringing him back on a minor-league contract allows him to rehab with the team and potentially contribute at the big-league level later in the year.

The 30-year-old was acquired along with Michael Busch from the Dodgers in a deal that sent left-handed pitching prospect Jackson Ferris and outfield prospect Zyhir Hope to Los Angeles. He was taken off the 40-man roster at the beginning of the offseason and elected free agency.

If Almonte can return to health, his addition provides even more depth in the bullpen for the Cubs.