The Red Sox traded right-hander Travis Lakins to the Cubs in exchange for a player to be named later or cash, both teams announced Tuesday afternoon. The Sox added that left-hander Bobby Poyner went unclaimed on outright waivers and has been assigned to Triple-A Pawtucket. Both teams now have full 40-man rosters.
Lakins, 25, was designated for assignment last week. Although he’d consistently ranked in the No. 15-25 range of a thin Boston farm system, the Ohio State product has yet to put together a particularly strong showing in the Majors or in the upper minors. Lakins made his big league debut this past season, yielding a 3.86 ERA with a lackluster 18-to-10 K/BB ratio in 23 2/3 innings for Boston. His work in Triple-A has been rather similar, as he’s compiled a 3.82 ERA with 8.4 K/9, 4.1 BB/9 and slightly below-average grounder rates in parts of two seasons there.
Scouting reports on Lakins praise his curveball as a potential above-average offering, and he did average 93.8 mph on his heater in his brief MLB work. Clearly, the new Chaim Bloom-led front office isn’t enthralled with the right-hander, but the Cubs and their ongoing quest to stockpile ’pen depth without actually adding to the payroll in a meaningful way saw enough upside to take a flier.
Poyner, meanwhile, limped to a 6.94 ERA in just 11 2/3 innings last year. He posted solid numbers for the BoSox in his debut campaign (2018) and has averaged nearly 10 punchouts per nine innings pitched over the life of his minor league career. Having gone unclaimed, Poyner will remain in the organization without requiring a 40-man roster spot, so the Sox could take another look at him down the line in 2020.
Cubs went from minor league signings, to trading for minor league players.
news flash – everyone does it
Not as much as Cubs do it. Usually teams rebuilding do it to find diamonds in the rough. Not teams looking to compete for a WS.
@AAJD, it’s not the quantity at which they are making the minor league deals, it is the fact that that is ALL they have done. Sprinkle in a major league deal here or there and these comments will go away.
Valid point mr. g
The sprinkle in part isn’t happening tho.
Just like Mr Bloom and the Red Sox
I know there must be a big plan.
Get under the threshold and hope forbthe best?
From what I’ve read, the Cubs are still about 6 mil over the threshold. It will be a little interesting to see who the Cubs traded to get this young pitcher. The guy has decent velocity but needs better control – like many young pitchers who are on the cusp of sticking in the majors. Maybe a change in scenery will help and he can be a 6th or 7th option this year for the rotation or can compete for a bullpen spot. This move is better/more significant than some of the other ones Theo has made recently. I still want to see a couple of big moves were the team acquires a legit leadoff man and improves the rotation. Looks like the Braves have some extra outfield parts like Nick Markakis now that they’ve signed Ozuna. Once the Bryant ruling is issued, maybe they can pursue a deal for Fried, Markakis and a couple of prospects and give Markakis a shot at the leadoff spot. Doesn’t look like he’s ever hit leadoff much but he has a good OBP and decent speed and could hold down the spot until Hoerner is ready to be that guy..
Trash Tradin’ Theo!
@Chitown331 every time I open a cubs page I scroll through to see your comments. I know it isn’t that funny but for some reason the “trash trading” left me in stitches. Good day squire
White Sox signed 3 minor leaguers today but no comment from you.
Shocker, right? It’s like he’s a typical Sux fan that only comments on Cubs news.
credit where it’s due, Theo’s got a fair ammount of talent thisn offseason given how little resources the team has.
IF one or two stick, then it is a big win. They are really increasing their odds to make that happen. So far I have heard Morrow is 100% healthy and will not get held back in spring training, if he still has the stuff and healthy, then primary setup man is solved on the cheap.
I am not crapping on Theo, this is a very good strategy., and last year they found Rowan Wick out of it.
@ihmf, I’m hoping for a nice year from Morrow as well. However, I don’t expect him to be a”primary” anything. The same reason he cannot be a primary closer is the same reason he cannot be a primary setup man. You can only pitch the man 2 maybe 3 times a week and NEVER on back to back days or multiple innings. Treat him right, a la Dodgers, and he could be a weapon.
Yeah high leverage guy, don’t over use him. He will be very solid staying healthy.
Wieck also looked promising at the end of the year. A couple near league minimum relievers will definitely help free up a little bit of payroll.
WICK !! spell it right willya
Actually, Randall, I did spell it correctly. I am referring to Brad Wieck, who came over from the Padres mid season. He has a big arm and did well with the Cubbies. He may be another find for the so called Dumpster Diver Theo.
Brad Wieck, you moron. I did spell it correctly.
They have Rowan Wieck and Brad Wick. Both from the San Diego Padres. Cubs traded Edwards Jr. for Wieck
Given they’re FA losses, they’ll need more than 1 or 2 to stick.
Hamels was a bit of a loss but he was only healthy for about half of last year and that may now be a trend at his age and mileage. Mills showed himself well last year at both the minor and major league level. Saw him pitch in September last year at Wrigley and I think he’s ready for a spot in the rotation.
Brother of John Wick?
Obligatory World Series here we come!
I hate jumping on this bandwagon, but man Theo sure does like making minor league moves. I know other teams do it all the time, but I feel like Theo does it more.
Mr Bloom is spending a lot of time in the BBB bins too
One of the reasons for so many minor league signings is that there is no room on the major league roster. Plus, if you put a player on the major league roster, you have to keep him there or expose him to waivers. By signing to a minor league contract, they have more control of cost as well.
3.78era is solid
Walks a ton.
This is the last piece the Cubs needed for a 2020 WS title.
Woo hoo we just won one 4 years ago . Let’s get another
Maybe the Cubs new and revised “Pitch Lab” can work some wonders. They certainly have plenty of lab specimens to work on.
His e.r.a. Is a full run below strop.
And this guy has starter potential unlike Strop.
Cubs fans sure got whiny after winning a world series. I’d be basking in it still. Still wallowing in Mariners misery over here.
Always worried about the Cubs actually doing it, that people would whine every year they didn’t afterward. And they have whined. A lot. I agree, still enjoying that they at least broke the curse.
I’d give a lot to see the M’s in a WS.
The “whining” is because we don’t want to witness another prime season of Baez, Rizzo, Schwarber, Contreras thrown away because management hasn’t adequately addressed all of the weakness of this team – leadoff spot and a kless than stellar rotation being the most glaring.. That’s what killed me about the former GM, Jim Hendry, He built a team in 2003 that was good enough to win it all but didn’t adequately address the bullpen. The next year, Hendry ignored the failure at the closer spot and that kept that team from reaching the playoffs – I don’t buy the BS from Steve Stone about how Baker’s in game moves were the overriding reason why that team failed. Look at the number of blown saves that year,. If that 2004 squad had a decent closer, whatever moves Dusty made down the stretch that Stone didn’t like wouldn’t have mattered. Is Theo now doing the same thing with the leadoff spot?
1) 25 age
2) Ranked in the No. 15-25 range of a thin Boston farm system
3) Yielding a 3.86 ERA with a lackluster 18-to-10 K/BB ratio in 23 2/3 innings for Boston.
^ Cubs get a 25 year old prospect ranked in the 15-25 range for practically nothing. How is that bad? And 3.86 ERA ain’t too bad for a rookie. Low risk. Fill the farm with young talent and if you get lucky with 2-3 then it’s all worth it.
You are on track. Minor leagues stripped try to build back up. Believe Underwood out of options has to stick Need 10 extra arms See how many pitchers used in 2018 or 2019. If started with 13 plan on using more than 20 Now have to bring a few that were in minors to major league club to start season This or drop into AA I was not impressed with Adzolay Think Wick Wieck Ryan go in front of Kimbrel ok now need four more. Probably stuck with Chatwood. Underwood That’s six need two more. They have Tapera Winkler and the pitcher from the Dodgers Then Maples Won’t believe Morrow until I see him pitch
See, the Cubs are making moves!
so are the Sox !!
You must remember that all of these “deals” are nothing more than holding open auditions for a possible roster spot on AA or AAA teams. If some of these guys stick, then guys like Alzolay, Maples, or De la Cruz and others can get shots in Chicago.
I do like this low cost pick up he does have potential/ Remember Jake Arieta was written off also and the cubs have a pitch lab that will help his mechanics. Good trade if its for cash or a hail mary prospect.
Nick Castellanos is an obvious choice and will continue to crush it in Wrigley for years to come. Not signing him is an abject failure. WTF?
They have to dump some payroll first to fit Castellanos into their salary structure. Trading Bryant for a quality young affordable starting left hander (like Max Fried of ATL) and some prospects and then trading Quintana for prospects would free up enough money to sign Castellanos and get under the salary cap. All that hinges on getting the Bryant FA service ruling which is way overdue.