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Brewers Trade Caleb Smith To Cubs

By charliewilmoth | December 8, 2016 at 8:56am CDT

The Brewers have traded Rule 5 Draft pick and left-handed pitcher Caleb Smith to the Cubs, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel writes (Twitter links). The Brewers will receive a player to be named or cash.

The Brewers had selected the 25-year-old Smith out of the Yankees system. He pitched 63 2/3 innings for Double-A Trenton in 2016, making seven starts and 20 relief appearances, and posted a 3.96 ERA, 9.9 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9. The Yankees selected him in the 14th round of the 2013 draft. He seems unlikely to stick on a stacked Cubs roster, but the Cubs had been looking for left-handed relief help.

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Chicago Cubs Milwaukee Brewers New York Yankees Rule 5 Draft Transactions

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35 comments
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Comments

  1. randalgrichuk15

    4 years ago

    Alrighty then.

    Like
    Reply
  2. TacoCat

    4 years ago

    The bullpen isn’t “stacked” we have openings since Cahill left and Wood is not certain

    Like
    Reply
    • icedog7229

      4 years ago

      Kerry wood is still around? I thought he retired 2 or 3 years ago

      Like
      Reply
      • sidewinder11

        4 years ago

        Travis Wood…..

        Like
        Reply
      • HOUShadows

        4 years ago

        It’s Travis Wood…

        Like
        Reply
      • Douggy44

        4 years ago

        TRAVIS

        Like
        Reply
    • Deke

      4 years ago

      I like the way you think. Many would consider it “stacked” but you want more and better. My team is happy to check the boxes and last year didn’t think anywhere past the starting players. When an OF went down, we had two decent outfielder. All because they did have the depth like Chicago or LA. Both teams who understand that.

      Like
      Reply
    • KB

      4 years ago

      CL: Davis
      SU: Rondon
      RP: Edwards
      RP: Strop
      RP: Grimm
      RP:
      LHRP: Zastryzny
      LHRP: Duensing

      Assuming they carry 8 guys they have 1 complete opening. They’ll likely sign another left hander in the form of Blevins, Logan, or Dunn…… or Wood (if he takes a pay cut) yet which would leave Zastryzny and Duensing likely competing for the other LHRP spot. As for that other opening they can either audition in-house talent like Jose Rosario for it, or go out and sign a guy like Storen or Holland, two guys looking to sign short deals to rebuild their value due to coming off an injury or having a down season. Either way, I wouldn’t say they have very many openings. I’d say they have room to add guys to compete for spots, But that’s about it. The back 5 spots are filled. They have Duensing and Zastryzny who impressed in limited time in 2016 to either man two of the three other spots or compete for 1 spot. WHEN they sign another left hander which has been hinted at that will lock up 2 spots because that new signee will have a spot and Zastryzny and Duensing will compete for the other. That leaves 1 opening. And I think they’ll sign Holland. Or use in-house guys to fill it. Maybe Pierce Johnson????

      Like
      Reply
      • coconutbanger

        4 years ago

        The plan for Zastryzny currently is to stretch him out in the minors. I believe they are going to open with an 8-man bullpen. Maybe the strategy changes with how the market evolves, but assuming your list and an 8-man bullpen, there are two slots open.

        Like
        Reply
      • Rounding3rd

        4 years ago

        Fill a spot with Uehara. Looks pretty good.

        Like
        Reply
    • Djones246890

      4 years ago

      To be honest, the bullpen was never stacked. Edwards, Chapman, and Montgomery were the only ones that were reliable in the NLCS and World Series.

      Like
      Reply
  3. donniebaseball

    4 years ago

    Since this was a trade (of a rule 5 guy), they can option him down, right? I’m assuming that’s the benefit instead of claiming them yourself?

    Like
    Reply
    • TheMichiganTheMichigan

      4 years ago

      No, unless he is returned and trade for (I.e Jabari Blash) you cannot option a rule 5 pick at anytime.

      Like
      Reply
    • Whyamihere

      4 years ago

      no, same rules apply, they just get to pick earlier, so they don’t have to hope be falls to their pick.

      Like
      Reply
      • donniebaseball

        4 years ago

        That makes sense. Thanks guys.

        Like
        Reply
  4. KJ0911

    4 years ago

    Who?

    Like
    Reply
    • tim815

      4 years ago

      Unless you’re a Yankees hardcore guy, or a pro scout, you likely haven’t heard of him.

      Part of the joy of the Rule 5 Draft.

      What did you say when the Cubs added Hector Rondon?

      Like
      Reply
  5. chitown311

    4 years ago

    Here come the Cub fans “LOVE THIS TRADE”

    Like
    Reply
    • dewssox79

      4 years ago

      yup. its coming. just wait for it

      Like
      Reply
    • Mikel Grady

      4 years ago

      I love this trade. Caleb Smith will be a stud and help Cubs win multiple championships. Go Cubs!

      Like
      Reply
  6. angelsadvocate

    4 years ago

    Love you, Mike Grady.

    Like
    Reply
    • Mikel Grady

      4 years ago

      Ha. Had too

      Like
      Reply
  7. GoPackGo23

    4 years ago

    I know this trades incredibly minor but as a Brewers fan if we are getting cash back (of course not a lot) please at least throw it towards signing bullpen arms because we need at least 3 or 4 of them.

    Like
    Reply
    • tim815

      4 years ago

      The cash would likely be in the low four-figures.

      Maybe enough to add a scout for a couple college baseball series.

      Like
      Reply
      • KB

        4 years ago

        Pretty sure it’s like $50,000 or $100,000. I know it changed in the new CBA. Might be up to about $150,000 now. Can’t remember, but I know it is one of those, nothing more. In the world of MLB money….. it’s pocket change. The dollar amount exchanged is the cost to make the pick I believe. They might throw in extra on top, but it is less than $100,000 extra. It is pretty much however much the Rule 5 fee is to draft a player. You have to pay the team to take a guy from. So the Cubs will reimburse the Brewers the amount they paid to pick him.

        Like
        Reply
    • EndinStealth

      4 years ago

      The thing is they gave up a bullpen arm. Not a great one but very serviceable.

      Like
      Reply
  8. collegeofcoaches

    4 years ago

    Perfect left handed set up man. Besides 13% of all WS champs have had at least one Smith or Jones on the roster.

    Like
    Reply
  9. angelsadvocate

    4 years ago

    CofC is a SabreMatrix guy, too!

    Like
    Reply
  10. KB

    4 years ago

    Next Andrew Miller. Book it.

    Like
    Reply
  11. KB

    4 years ago

    I’m just bummed Armando Rivero is gone. 4 minor league seasons with the Cubs. All as a reliever. 160 relief appearances, 2.70 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 12.4 K/9, 4.4 BB/9. Would’ve been nice to see him at least compete for a spot. He was lights out for Iowa in 2016. 2.13 ERA, 67.2 IP, 1.12 WHIP, 14 K/9, 4.7 BB/9. As you can see his control is the only issue. But he walks about as many guys as Chapman does and Chapman gets away with it. 4.5 BB/9 for a reliever isn’t exactly uncommon. It’s not Carlos Marmol 7 BB/9 status.

    Like
    Reply
  12. stubby66

    4 years ago

    People also have to realize a rule 5 player really only has to make it till July then they could stub a toe and stashed on the dl until September 1 expansion of rosters. Be brought back and qualified as a year.

    Like
    Reply
  13. HarveyD82

    4 years ago

    cubs should ,maybe, consider Tony Watson. .he’s been a reliable bucco…if they want more pen help

    Like
    Reply
  14. gbrando17

    4 years ago

    2-3 more moves the Cubs need to make and we could call it a successful offseason.
    1- Sign Tyson Ross
    He will have all the time he needs in case he struggles in the beginning of the season. Maybe even start the season with a 6 man rotation to ease him in.
    2- Sign Greg Holland
    Sure we got Davis but why not set yourself up for 2018 in case Davis gets too expensive to re-sign? Also solidifies the back end of the pen in case Strop & Rondon struggle. Low risk and potentially high reward.
    3- 1 more lefty in the pen would be nice
    In case we don’t sign Ross or any other potential starter, Montgomery may be the 5th in the rotation. If so, we need another lefty arm besides Zastryzny that can be put into high leverage/late game situations. I’m not sold on Duensing.

    Like
    Reply
  15. fisher40

    4 years ago

    I’m a Brewers fan and I have no clue who this dude is. Stearns and company probably needed to get rid of some dead weight

    Like
    Reply
  16. 1e828d29

    4 years ago

    We need Davis’s arm to not blow up. Then Edwards and strop to be horses. Gonna miss the heck out of Travis wood. On Rondon I don’t even know what to say…..

    Like
    Reply

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