Cubs trade for Seattle outfielder

by Tony Crumpton - Senior Editor - 2017-09-01 08:06:21.0

Joe Nicholson - USA Today Sports

The Chicago Cubs made a move on Thursday night by trading for Seattle Mariners outfielder Leonys Martin for a player to be named later and cash.

In 2016, Martin is batting .174 with three homers and eight RBI with the big-league club. For the rest of the season, he has been in Triple-A and hit a strong .307 with 11 homers and 25 steals. Last season, he had his best season as a pro with .247 average, 15 homers, 24 steals and scoring 72 runs.

For his career, the 29-year old is hitting .248 with 38 homers, 175 RBI, and .300 on-base percentage.

Martin is a solid defensive centerfielder and will give depth to the Cubs as the teams will expand to 40-man rosters on September 1.

He has five defensive runs saved in only 262.1 innings this season. From 2013-2015, he has saved 45 defensive runs, so he will be a valuable defensive replacement and possible pinch-runner if the Cubs make the playoffs.