Cubs trade veteran reliever for 6-6 pitching prospect Saúl González |
ST. LOUIS – The Chicago Cubs today acquired minor league right-handed pitcher Saúl González from the New York Mets for right-handed pitcher Mychal Givens.
González, 22, is 2-1 with a 2.81 ERA (8 ER/25.2 IP) and one save in 14 games (one start) for Single-A St. Lucie this season. The righthander did not allow an earned run in seven-straight outings from June 17-July 15, spanning 13.2 innings. González has tossed at least 2.0 innings in nine of his 14 outings and has held right-handed hitters to a .222 average (12-for-54) this season. The six-foot, six-inch González was selected in the 23rd round of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft out of the Monteverde Academy in Florida. González made his professional debut in 2018, before missing the entire 2019 season due to injury. All told, the Cidra, Puerto Rico native is 4-2 with a 4.39 ERA (33 ER/67.2 IP) and 71 strikeouts in 29 career minor league games (eight starts). Givens, 32, is 6-2 with six holds, two saves and a 2.66 ERA (12 ER/40.2 IP) in 40 relief appearances for Chicago after signing a one-year deal with the club this past March. In eight seasons with Baltimore (2015-2020), Colorado (2020-21), Cincinnati (2021) and the Cubs, Givens is 31-22 with 84 holds, 31 saves and a 3.34 ERA (162 ER/437.0 IP) in 400 career games. Mets relief prospect Saúl González struck out Fidel Castro to end the game.
González had 5 whiffs on 6 swings on his fastball (up to 95 mph). pic.twitter.com/mBYhHSfYh9
