Thatcher announced his retirement Monday, Pedro Velazco of the Kokomo Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Thatcher played professionally from 2006 to 2016, making major league appearances with the Padres, Diamondbacks, Angels and Astros. The lifetime reliever posted a 3.38 ERA over 260.2 career innings.

Thatcher agreed to a minor league contract with the Cubs on Monday, Chris Cotillo of SB Nation reports.

EDGE Analysis

Thatcher, released by the Indians last week, will report to Triple-A Iowa as he attempts another return to the majors. The 34-year-old posted a 3.60 ERA over 15 innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City earlier this season and will provide depth for a Cubs bullpen that carries just three left-handed relievers.

Thatcher was released by the Indians on Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

The 34-year-old southpaw had not pitched since June 3 after the Indians brought him in after he was released by the Dodgers. It is unclear if he was dealing with an ailment, or if it was just a bad fit, as he was never placed on the minor league DL.

Free-agent pitcher Joe Thatcher signed a minor-league deal with the Indians, Chris Cotillo of SB Nation reports.

EDGE Analysis

Thatcher, who was released by the Indians in late March, will rejoin his former team in the minors. The left-hander last pitched for the Dodgers organization in 2016 (Triple-A Oklahoma City), compiling a a 3.60 ERA with 21 strikeouts in just 15 innings. The Dodgers released Thatcher in early June. This move makes sense for the Indians as Kyle Crockett is the only left-hander in the current major league bullpen. Thatcher will most likely join the Triple-A Columbus roster.

Thatcher was granted his release from the Indians on Sunday, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian reports.

EDGE Analysis

Rather than sticking with the Indians as organizational depth at Triple-A Columbus after failing to win a roster spot with the big club, Thatcher decided he was better served pursuing an opportunity with another team. The left-hander made 43 appearances for the Astros in 2015, logging a 3.18 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, and 26:12 K:BB ratio over 22.2 innings.

Thatcher was informed by the Indians that he will not make the Opening Day roster, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

EDGE Analysis

Thatcher pitched will this spring with a 1.35 ERA and no walks and eight strikeouts over 6.2 innings but he was facing an uphill battle from the start. He'll report to Triple-A Columbus to start the season if he decides to stick with the Cleveland organization.

Thatcher agreed to a deal with the Indians on Thursday, Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish reports.

EDGE Analysis

Thatcher spent his 2015 campaign in Houston, where he struck out 26 batters over 22.2 innings in the majors. If he cracks the final roster in Cleveland, the left-hander is likely to serve in middle relief.

The Astros called up Thatcher from Triple-A Fresno on Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

Thatcher appeared in 36 games for the Astros earlier this season and will join the club for the September stretch run. He will provide the club another left-hander to deploy out of the bullpen.

Thatcher took the loss in relief Monday after allowing a run on one hit and two walks in just a third of an inning against the A's. Thatcher (0-1) entered the game with two outs in the top of the fourth inning and struck out Josh Reddick, however, he failed to retire a batter when he came back out for the fifth, as he allowed an infield single and two walks to load the bases before exiting the game in favor of Will Harris. The 33-year-old southpaw was charged with the loss when one of Harris' inherited runners scored on an RBI single. With a 3.38 ERA and 1.50 WHIP, Thatcher has been the most unreliable member of Houston's bullpen to date. If his performance does not improve, the Astros may turn to Kevin Chapman or Darin Downs in the minors to take over the lefty specialist role out of the bullpen.

Thatcher pitched a scoreless frame and struck out two during the Astros' 7-1 loss to the Rangers on Tuesday. Through 10 relief appearances for the Astros this season, Thatcher has a 2.84 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 8:1 K:BB over 6.1 innings. Despite solid numbers thus far, he hasn't pitched many high-leverage situations this season, as the Astros have leaned on fellow southpaw Tony Sipp for those occurrences.