Cubs trade with Brewers for LHP |
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. – The Chicago Cubs today acquired left-handed pitcher Caleb Smith from the Milwaukee Brewers for a cash consideration. Smith had been selected by Milwaukee in the Major League portion (first round, ninth overall) of the Rule 5 Draft from the New York Yankees.
Smith, 25, is 24-23 with three saves and a 3.40 ERA (139 ER/367.2 IP) in 94 games, including 69 starts, since being drafted in the 14th round of the 2013 Draft by the Yankees. He has limited opponents to a .236 average in his career, allowing just 18 homers in 367.2 innings of work. The 6-foot-2, 205 pound southpaw spent the entire 2016 campaign with Double-A Trenton, posting a 3.96 ERA (28 ER/63.2 IP) and three saves in 27 appearances, all but seven as a reliever. He struck out 70 batters while issuing just 20 free passes. In parts of three seasons at the Double-A Level, he has gone 13-12 with a 3.55 ERA (78 ER/198.0 IP) in 53 games, including 32 starts. Smith reached the Triple-A level in 2015, making one appearance with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Smith made his professional debut in 2013, posting a 1.93 ERA (11 ER/51.1 IP) in 14 games between Single-A Staten Island and Double-A Trenton. The following season he was named a South Atlantic League mid-season All-Star after recording a 3.10 ERA (27 ER/78.1 IP) in 18 starts with Single-A Charleston. A native of Huntsville, Texas, Smith played three seasons at Sam Houston State University. In the Triple-A portion of the Rule 5 Draft, the Cubs selected infielder Kevin Cornelius from the New York Yankees with the 30th pick of the first round. Cornelius, 24, batted .299 (59-for-197) with 13 homers and 48 RBI in 56 games between Rookie League Pulaski and Single-A Tampa in 2016. He was originally selected by the Yankees in the 31st round of the 2013 Draft and has batted .296 (149-for-503) across four minor league seasons. The Cubs lost right-handed pitcher Armando Rivero in the Major League portion of the Rule 5 Draft when he was selected in the first round (fifth overall) by the Atlanta Braves. In the Triple-A phase of the Draft, the Cubs lost infielder Daniel Lockhart to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Chicago’s 40-man roster now stands at 36 players. I wanna thank the Yankees for the opportunity and good memories and great friends. But I'm happy to say I'm a Cub now
