Mark Rebilas - USA Today Sports
Mark Rebilas - USA Today Sports

Cubs announce a series of roster moves on Monday


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CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today selected right-handed pitcher Jose Rosario from Triple-A Iowa. Additionally, the Cubs have claimed right-handed pitcher Conor Mullee off waivers from the New York Yankees and today activated him from the 60-day disabled list. Also activated from the 60-day disabled list are right-handed pitcher Aaron Brooks, left-handed pitcher Zac Rosscup and infielder Christian Villanueva.

In addition, right-handed pitcher Dallas Beeler has been activated from the 60-day disabled list and outrighted to Iowa. Right-handed pitcher Andury Acevedo and catcher Tim Federowicz have also been outrighted to Iowa.

Chicago’s 40-man roster now stands at 34 players.

Rosario, 26, combined to go 2-1 with 14 saves and a 2.50 ERA (15 ER/54.0 IP) between Single-A Myrtle Beach, Double-A Tennessee and Iowa. After missing the 2015 campaign with an injured right elbow he this past season walked 17, struck out 47 and allowed just one home run while the opposition batted .250.

Originally signed as a non-drafted free agent, April 29, 2008, by Cubs scouts Jose Serra and Carlos Reyes, Rosario is 27-33 with 17 saves and a 4.78 ERA (261 ER/491.2 IP) in 160 career minor league games (64 starts). The righthander has walked 209, struck out 425 and allowed just 33 home runs.

Mullee, 28, made his major league debut with the Yankees this past season making three relief appearances (1 ER/3.0 IP) in two stints with the club. He spent a majority of his season with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, going 4-0 with six saves, a 0.99 ERA (4 ER/36.1 IP) and just 11 walks. Mullee landed on the 15-day disabled list, July 2, due to carpal tunnel-like symptoms and was transferred to the 60-day D.L., August 13, after he underwent ulnar nerve decompression surgery, August 9.

Originally selected by the Yankees in the 24th round of the 2010 Draft out of St. Peter’s College in Jersey City, N.J., Mullee is 13-6 with 14 saves and a 2.00 ERA (36 ER/162.0 IP) in 103 career minor league appearances, all in relief. He has walked 47 and struck out 164 while having surrendered just seven home runs.

Brooks, 26, landed on the 15-day disabled list, April 3 (retro to March 25), with a hip contusion and was transferred to the 60-day D.L., August 19. Brooks was acquired from Oakland for outfielder Chris Coghlan, February 25 of this year.

Rosscup, 28, was placed on the 60-day disabled list, February 26 with left shoulder inflammation. The southpaw made 61 relief appearances over three seasons with Chicago (2013-15), going 3-1 with a 5.40 ERA (28 ER/46.2 IP) after he was acquired from Tampa Bay in January of 2011 along with pitcher Matt Garza in an eight-player deal.

Villanueva, 25, landed on the 15-day disabled list, April 3 (retro to March 25), with a right fibular fracture and was transferred to the 60-day D.L., May 3. Acquired from Texas with pitcher Kyle Hendricks, July 31, 2012, for pitcher Ryan Dempster, Villanueva in 2015 hit .257 with 20 homers and 95 RBI between Tennessee and Iowa.

Beeler, 27, was placed on the 15-day disabled list, April 3 (retro to March 25), with right shoulder inflammation and was transferred to the 60-day D.L., August 19. He was selected by Chicago in the 41st round of the 2010 Draft and made five starts for Chicago spanning the 2014-15 seasons.

Acevedo, 26, made six relief appearances with Tennessee this past season but missed a majority of the year due to a torn left ACL in May. He signed with the Cubs in November of last year following four minor league seasons in the Yankees chain.

Federowicz, 29, appeared in 17 games for Chicago and hit .194 (6-for-31) with two doubles, three runs and three RBI. Signed to a minor league deal in January, he hit .293 (67-for-229) with 12 doubles, eight homers and 39 RBI in 65 games for Iowa.

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