According to multiple reports, the Chicago Cubs have traded cacther Geovany Soto to the Texas Rangers for RHP Jacob Brigham. It seemed like the trades are finally coming together as Soto just hugged his teammates minutes after Johnson did and he left the clubhouse. As Ken Rosenthal states, the trades appear to be seperate. The Cubs have recently discussed a trade with the New York Mets regarding Soto and the Tampa Bay Rays have been linked to Soto for months. The Rangers were never mentioned as a suitor and it camer out of no where. Kaplan reported that it was the Rangers.
Since Soto won the Rooke of the Year Award, he’s been up and down for the years after. Especially this year where he is struggling bad as he’s hitting under .20o. Soto was likely to be traded now or sometime this Winter as he was a non-tender candidate. He has improved in the field, but he’s still below average.
As you would expect a player coming in a trade for Soto, he wouldn’t be too great. Brigham is a 24-year old playing for Double A (may be too old for that level). Either way, Brigham is 5-5 with a 4.28era and 116 strikeouts in 124 innings. Maybe he’ll make it the Cubs ‘pen as they do need RP.
The Cubs will call-up Welington Castillo and he will be at tomorrow’s game.
I know Soto’s career went downhill, but I wish him the best of luck with the Rangers.