The Chicago Cubs will add another reliever to their bullpen and send a starting pitcher down to Triple-A Iowa.
Henry Rodriguez will be available as soon as Friday night against the New York Mets after the Cubs traded for him on Tuesday. According to the Associated Press report, the Cubs are hoping that he can be used for multi-inning relief in the future.
"Cubs manager Dale Sveum said he planned to use the right-hander in a middle relief role at first and the team hopes to build up his endurance because he may be needed to pitch two innings at a time."
Rodriguez is in his fifth season; two beginning with the Oakland Athletics and his three seasons with the Washington Nationals. The reliever has given up 14 hits, eight earned runs, and has a 16 walks to 11 strikeouts ratio this season in 18 innings of work.
Chicago gave up minor league pitcher Ian Dickson to the Nationals. After starting in all 15 appearances last season, Dickson started in just three of 11 games for the Iowa Cubs. He has a 6.88 earned run average in 35.1 innings pitched.
Elsewhere, starting pitcher Brooks Raley started in five games for the Cubs last season, but hasn’t appeared in a game since. He was recalled on Wednesday only to be sent down back to Iowa on Friday.
[Source: Associated Press / Wall Street Journal]