MESA, Ariz. - Looking to strengthen a bullpen filled with question marks as the season opener fast approaches, the Cubs signed right-hander Shawn Camp, who was waived by the Seattle Mariners last week.

Camp, 36, is an eight-year veteran of the American League with a 4.40 ERA and 10 saves in 432 career appearances, all in relief.

``It was kind of a shock,'' Camp said of being released after allowing two runs in 8 1/3 innings (2.16 ERA) in seven spring appearances.

Camp, who has a $750,000 big-league contract with the Mariners, was signed to a minor-league deal with the Cubs and immediately becomes a favorite to win a bullpen job.

``I'm glad to be here,'' he said. ``I played for Dale [Sveum] in the minor leagues. He's a great manager. ... I just want to come in and do what I do, just go out and worry about what I can control. The most important part is I just want to pitch. I did some things last year at the end of the year, made some strides, and I just want to keep doing that.

``I think the hardest part was to go home and sit for 48 hours and now know where I was going to go. But I was really glad that [general manager] Jed Hoyer contacted me [over the weekend] and said they would like to bring me over. And when I talked to Dale on the phone it made my decision a lot easier.

``I'm just really happy to be here.''