Mark J. Rebilas - USA Today Sports
Mark J. Rebilas - USA Today Sports

Cubs add reliever, place Morrow on DL


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PHOENIX – The Chicago Cubs today selected right-handed pitcher Allen Webster from Triple-A Iowa. To make room on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Brandon Morrow has been transferred to the 60-day disabled list.

Webster, who makes his first big league roster since 2015, will wear uniform number 61 and is available for tonight’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.

The 28-year-old Webster posted a 1.13 ERA (1 ER/8.0 IP) with three saves and 11 strikeouts compared to one walk in eight games between Double-A Tennessee and Iowa, August 11-September 2, while holding opponents to a .200 average (6-for-30), a .226 on-base percentage and a .526 OPS. He signed a minor league deal with Chicago in early March, and between Rookie League Mesa, Tennessee and Iowa, combined to post a 2.65 ERA (5 ER/17.0 IP) in 17 outings, walking three and striking out 24 this season.

Webster is 7-6 with a 6.13 ERA (82 ER/120.1 IP) in 28 games (23 starts) spanning parts of three major league seasons with the Red Sox (2013-14) and Diamondbacks (2015), most recently going 1-1 with a 5.81 ERA (20 ER/31.0 IP) in nine games, including five starts, for Arizona in 2015.

A native of Greensboro, North Carolina, Webster made 12 starts for Samsung in the Korean Baseball Organization in 2016 before going 4-4 with a 6.79 ERA (44 ER/58.1 IP) in 12 games (11 starts) with Triple-A Round Rock in the Texas Rangers organization in 2017.

Originally selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 18th round of the 2008 Draft out of McMichael High School in Mayodan, North Carolina, Webster is 54-43 with a 4.03 ERA (391 ER/873.1 IP), two complete games, one shutout and five saves in 196 career minor league contests (153 starts). He was part of an August 25, 2012 trade between the Dodgers and Red Sox that involved Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez.

Chicago’s active roster now stands at 36 players.

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