Dan Hamilton - USA Today Sports
Dan Hamilton - USA Today Sports

Cubs reportedly acquire Blue Jays reliever


by - Senior Editor -

Theo Epstein is making moves.

The Chicago Cubs have traded Double-A pitcher Thomas Hatch (No. 29 prospect) to the Blue Jays for righty reliever David Phelps and cash considerations.

To make room for Phelps on the 40-man roster, Triple-A reliever Xavier Cedeño has been transferred to the 60-day injured list.

Phelps has recently come back from T.J. surgery but has done well since his return.

For the season, the 32-year old has a 3.63 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 17.1 innings pitched. He has held batters to a .222 batting average (14-for-63), including a .217 mark vs. left-handed hitters and a .225 mark vs. right-handed hitters, and has posted a 1.21 WHIP.

He will likely be used as a middle reliever and especially needed since Pedro Strop was just placed on the 10-day injured list.

He was signed by the Blue Jays on a one-year deal worth $2.5 million with a club option for 2020. He underwent Tommy John surgery in March 2018.

For his career, Phelps is 30-33 with 58 holds, five saves and a 3.88 ERA (246 ER/571.0 IP) in 245 major league appearances (65 starts) in seven seasons.

Hatch is a third-round pick in the 2016 draft and will transition into a bullpen type arm in the future. He has a 4.59 ERA in 21 Double-A starts this year.

He is 17-27 with a 4.10 ERA (168 ER/368.1 IP) in 73 starts in three minor league seasons.

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