Cubs trade for righty pitcher |
CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today acquired right-handed pitcher Jharel Cotton from the Oakland Athletics for a cash consideration.
Cotton, 27, missed the 2018 season after suffering an elbow injury during Spring Training that required Tommy John surgery on March 31. He returned to pitch for Triple-A Las Vegas in July of this year, and posted a 3.24 ERA (3 ER/8.1 IP) in his final six outings starting August 13. All told, Cotton was 0-2 with a 7.71 ERA (16 ER/18.2 IP) in 14 games (one start) for the Aviators, striking out 24 while walking 10 batters. He was designated for assignment by Oakland on November 20. Cotton is 11-10 with a 4.95 ERA (87 ER/158.1 IP) in 29 career games, all starts, for Oakland in 2016-17. He made his major league debut as a September call-up in 2016, going 2-0 with a 2.15 ERA (7 ER/29.1 IP) in five starts for the Athletics before going 9-10 with a 5.58 ERA (80 ER/129.0 IP) in 24 outings the following season. Originally selected by the Dodgers in the 20th round of the 2012 Draft out of East Carolina University, Cotton owns a 30-28 record with four complete game shutouts and a 3.85 ERA (212 ER/496.0 IP) in 122 career minor league games, including 71 starts. He has walked 146 and struck out 560 batters, good for an average of 10.16 strikeouts per 9.0 innings. He was acquired by Oakland at the 2016 trade deadline in a five-player deal that sent Rich Hill and Josh Reddick to the Dodgers. Chicago’s 40-man roster stands at 37 players. Cotton has one Minor League option remaining, which makes this acquisition even better from the Cubs' perspective. Low risk, high reward and can retain the depth if he's not in OD plans. Most realistic path to MLB roster is as a reliever, but Cubs could build him up in spring. The Cubs acquired pitcher Jharel Cotton from Oakland for a cash consideration. Cotton missed the 2018 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery and recently got DFA’d by the A’s. The #Cubs acquire RHP Jharel Cotton from #Athletics for $$. Adding to P inventory, which Chicago needs ... The #Cubs today acquired RHP Jharel Cotton from the Athletics for a cash consideration. pic.twitter.com/3CSbbfv6Rx