Cubs Claim Ransom; Designate Takahashi, Lillibridge

The Cubs claimed infielder Cody Ransom off waivers from the Padres, GM Jed Hoyer told reporters including MLB.com's Carrie Muskat.  The team also purchased the contract of Kevin Gregg.  Sunday's waiver claim, Kameron Loe, is also joining the Cubs' bullpen, while reliever Hisanori Takahashi and infielder Brent Lillibridge were designated for assignment.  Second baseman Darwin Barney has been reinstated from the DL, as expected.

Ransom had been designated for assignment by the Padres on Friday.  The 37-year-old had the most exposure of his big league career last year, racking up a .220/.312/.411 line in 282 plate appearances for the Brewers and Diamondbacks.  If Ransom somehow sticks on the Cubs' roster, he'll be arbitration eligible after the season.

Takahashi, 38, was scored upon in two of his three appearances for the Cubs this year.  The lefty posted a 5.54 ERA, 9.3 K/9, 2.5 BB/9, 1.43 HR/9, and 37.1% groundball rate in 50 1/3 innings for the Angels and Pirates in 2012.  The Cubs' bullpen is already being retooled, with a 5.82 ERA in the early going.

Lillibridge, 29, had one hit in 24 plate appearances for the Cubs this year.  He played second and third base.  Lillibridge hit .195/.250/.274 in 209 plate appearances for the White Sox, Red Sox, and Indians last year.  He was part of a "numbers crunch," Hoyer told reporters including Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune.  With the recent additions of Ransom, Gregg, and Loe, the Cubs' 40-man roster remains full.