Cubs Acquire Joe Smith From Angels
(CBS) The Cubs continued to fortify their bullpen on Monday ahead of the 3 p.m. trade deadline.
Chicago acquired righty reliever Joe Smith from the Los Angeles Angels. In return, the Cubs sent 20-year-old Class-A right-hander Jesus Castillo to the Angels.
The 32-year-old Smith is 1-4 with a 3.82 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 38 appearances this season. He's struck out 25 batters in 37 2/3 innings. Smith has a career 2.94 ERA in a 10-year MLB career.
Smith will bring a different arm slot for Cubs' opponents, as he has a sidearm delivery. Righties are hitting .267 with a .661 OPS against him this season, while lefties are hitting him at a .246 clip with a .738 OPS.
In recent weeks, the Cubs had also traded for closer Aroldis Chapman and lefty reliever Mike Montgomery.
Castillo is 2-3 with a 3.27 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in seven starts at short-season Class-A Eugene this season.
The Cubs had discussions with the Rays over the past few days, 670 The Score's Bruce Levine reported, but no bigger move panned out. Tampa Bay has three young pitchers that teams have shown interest in: Chris Archer, Matt Moore and Jake Odorizzi. Archer is under team control through 2021, Moore through 2019 and Odorizzi through 2019. Chicago continues to be interested in young, contract-controllable pitching.
Moore was dealt to the Giants just minutes before the deadline.