The Cubs acquired reliever Joe Smith from the Angels, tweets ESPN’s Buster Olney. The Halos will receive minor league pitcher Jesus Castillo from the Cubs, tweets Joel Sherman of the New York Post. The Cubs have officially announced the deal.
Smith, a 32-year-old righty, has been OK this year. The veteran has a 3.82 ERA, 6.0 K/9, 3.1 BB/9, 0.96 HR/9, and 54.8% groundball rate in 37 2/3 innings, missing most of June due to a hamstring strain. Smith has about $1.8MM remaining on his contract, after which he’ll be eligible for free agency. He signed a three-year, $15.75MM deal with the Angels in November 2013 after a long, successful run with the Indians. Unlike years past, the sidearming Smith has not been great against right-handed hitters in 2016. It’s been a month of bullpen additions for the Cubs, who previously added Aroldis Chapman, Mike Montgomery, and Joe Nathan.
Castillo, 20, has posted a 3.27 ERA in seven starts for the Cubs’ Low-A affiliate this year. The Cubs previously acquired Castillo from the Diamonbacks in the February 2013 Tony Campana trade.
In another deadline day deal, the Angels traded Hector Santiago and a minor leaguer to the Twins for Ricky Nolasco and Alex Meyer.
For who though. My guess would be a very low non prospect player.
Minor-league P Jesus Castillo.
Minor-league pitcher Jesus Castillo.
So pretty much they stole him. Jesus Castillo I highly doubt he was high on the cubs list to be called up.
Bag of balls. No risk for Cubs.
Smith was in the last year of his contract and he probably would’ve walked, anyway. Even if he wanted to stay, Halo’s might not have wanted him (or to pay him that kind of money) anymore. This way, at least they get something.
I’d rather see Grimm back with the team personally.
He’s been looking much better in the past couple of weeks. He’s over whatever mental skid that he was in.
Grimm will be back – they are just tweeting him for Sept and post season. Think this is just aback up plan. The Angels didn’t get anyone worth even talking about. Too bad Mike Trout wasn’t included haha
I’m guessing a AAA type relief pitcher with team control.
Or AA.
My guess is they’ll treat this sidewinder as a ROOGY
Classic boring Theo move at the deadline. How much more vanilla can it get? A trade for “Joe Smith.”
Classic boring — like when he traded Nomar? Or when he picked up Addison Russel from the A’s?
If his name was something like “Xavier Cespedes” would it sound better? You’re simply focused on a name.
Strike4 he a troll pay him no attention. If the trade don’t include Mike Trout or some wild crazy name like Sale then someone got to say something stupid. Good trade and good insurance for a no body. Happy!
Cubs do not need any more bullpen arms. They have been blowing away good prospects for players like Chapman and Smith who have no control beyond 2016.
Mind sharing with the rest of us which “great prospect” was given up to acquire Joe Smith? From what I can tell, it hasn’t been announced yet.
It a lower AA player not even in the top 100
That’s because they’re going for the win….now. I don’t care what these prospects (who are already blocked by other All-Stars the Cubs already have) do in the future. I want a championship and we need bullpen help. We just got it. This “maybe next year” crap is over. Great move.
What? Felix pie Brett jackson Gary Scott alcantara all had great careers didn’t they?:-)
You forgot the legendary Josh Vitters.
Wow. I really did forget about Josh Vitters. Looked him up and he’s playing independent ball now. Crazy how fast he fell off.
My bad, left out earl Cunningham and th Griffen.
No we were find Theo ego was taking a hit that’s why this trade was made . No Theo trade the world would collapse
Sacrificing prospects/future in the HOPES to win now is stupid and rarely works. You’d think GMs would realize that by now. And if it does work, great….. you win 1 year but then your sustained success is hampered. Trading all these prospects was the idea, no doubt. But trading them for a bunch of relievers, only 1 of which has proven to be anything of true value is stupid. And the only reliever the acquired worth a da** is a rental and has a pretty good chance of re-signing with the team from which he came…. the Yankees. If the Cubs don’t win the WS AND Chapman re-signs with the Yankees the trade for him looks that much more retarded.
Which is why it surprised me that they wouldnt budge on Swarber for Miller. They should have bit that bullet and did it. They need a controlable closer more than they need a bruiser that has no real position.
Banking on every prospect panning out and hoping you don’t need to sacrifice talent because you feel you have enough is just as stupid. There are risks involved in every decision. You’d think someone who understands the game better than everyone else in the entire country would know that by now.
You aren’t thinking like us cubs fans. Win one before we die is all that we ask . You are never guaranteed to be in this position again . Royals got cueto and mets cespedes and both in World Series. Nats sat Strasburg and haven’t been back . Play for now tomorrow is never promised
Why would he go back to the team that low balled him for an extension. Like I’ve said before. No way Theo makes that trade if he didn’t think he could re-sign him. He would have sent a lot less to the jankees for him if he knew he Wouldn’t get him for an extension. Theo is a sneaky gm. He’s got something up his leave for Chapman
“Great move” to acquire Joe Smith? Calm down.
For the needs that they have in the bullpen, yes, great move. Bullpen upgrades are now complete.
Who is he replacing that he’s better than?
They gave up 1 really good prospect for Chapman who will likely re-sign with Chicago. Otherwise Theo doesn’t make the trade. The player he gave up should have honestly gotten miller and Chapman. Torres and McKinley and warren for miller and Chapman. With an agreement for Chapman to stay with the cubs past this year.
The Cubs will likely make a competitive offer to keep Chapman, but we’ll see … Personally, I think he’s bound for St Louis. They have a ton of money, a desire to spend it, a need at closer, and I’m sure they’d love to steal a player from the Cubs. I could see them blowing away the market for Chapman
I said it once I say it again CUBS OFFERED CHAPMAN 65 MILLION 4 YEAR DEAL! He said he wanted to wait till the off season to talk about a new contract and was more comfortable doing so. Every one post and talks and knows nothing about what behind the scenes. He not going to Yankees Yankees wont pay 65 Million and just cleaned house. They are going to do it with young prospects over time. OVER TIME That is like 2019-2020. Mo is cheap won’t bring him to St.L just like the off season trades. You guys are thinking Price and ZG and Zimmerman – MO thinking Leake. If Chapman goes anywhere it be LAD or Cleveland if he don’t resign. But I think he will considering they have already talked about it. On the phone before the trade, and currently.. But everyone is the expert and knows it all. Full of Piss and vinegar
When has St. Louis had a desire to spend money?
They offered Heyward $200 million. They offered Price $175 million. They offered Pujols $200 million. They keep getting runner up in these bidding wars. But their Tv deal gives them the resources to sign these guys. They just need the right guy to take it.
And fwiw. I’m a Cubs fan. So the “you guys” comment doesn’t really apply.
Cubs have plenty of money to spend as well. Strop ,Rondon and Chapman is better than the jankees “3 headed monster” that back end for 5 more years is scary. Plus Lester Arrieta(he’ll sign an extension soon enough) Hendrick for 5 more years. Plus their core players. Bryzzo Baez Almora jr. Schwarber Soler.
Wrek305 that was tried and it couldn’t be done. You don’t think the GM’s and Presidents try all these wild ideas you can come up with. You guys should be GM’s then you know. Miller wasn’t going to get anyone except Swarb simple as that. There was no way that there was going to be a Miller and Chap deal together..
It was either get him for what we offered or lose him. Really the Cubs almost lost Chapman to Cleveland who offered a lot more. GT was a last min effort and the deal was done.
How can you say there was no way? Miller got traded. It didn’t bring back Schwarber. It didn’t even bring back a guy with Schwarbers profile. Frazier is a damn good prospect but no better than Torres. The difference in the packages was Sheffield being better than McKinney. The Cubs easily could’ve bridged that gap with a better prospect…
Source for indians offering a lot more and losing?
Figuring it’s for a guy who is out of options after this year….
Great move. Great with runners on base, gives a different arm angle. Very solid love. Cubs have revamped their bullpen from below average/mediocre to one of the best in baseball in a matter of 3 weeks. That’s how it’s done, folks! TheoJedRickettsForTheWin!
Move**, not love.
One could argue that it is also very solid love. Don’t redact or retract just yet.
There bullpen was never below average/mediocre. They had the 3rd lowest BAA and 3rd lowest WHIP among bullpens. Their 3.83 bullpen ERA before the moves was about league average. Due to the very low WHIP and BAA though one could assume that ERA was unluckily high. Montgomery has done nothing to help the bullpen yet and Chapman has already blown a save. Nothing above and beyond from what the bullpen was already doing. Media just exacerbates their bullpen “problem.” Chapman and Montgomery combined have pitched 7.1 IP giving up 4 ER, allowed 4 inherited runners to score, have a combined 4.91 ERA and a combined 1.50 WHIP. Most of that awfulness has been Montgomery’s doing, but like I have always said, Chapman is marginally better than Rondon. Chapman just has a better PR guy I guess. Despite these two struggling since joining the Cubs the bullpen ERA has DROPPED to 3.62. Meaning everyone else is picking up the Chapman-Montgomery slack. This Joe Smith dude has a 3.80+ ERA and a 1.30 WHIP this year. I fail to see how that makes the bullpen better when the cumulative bullpen numbers are better than that. All I can say is they better have given up some random dude on one of their single A teams for him and nothing more.
That is because your stupid KB and know nothing about baseball. It easy to pick out the Neg – Maybe your just another Cub hater and idiot. Mike M is not bad although he did give a up a few runs his first outings, he also pitched a 1-2-3 in last nights game – under extreme pressure I might add. It sometimes take guys a few games even a few weeks to get use to their new teams but your the expert. Expert at being an idiot at best. Chapman is human and considering the Cubs gave up very little in what they need now NOT 4 years from now. GT may not even make the majors. You guys talk about giving up prospects that are of no use expect trade value. Were not out to win a AA title or AAA title. Your very very stupid I don’t even want to debate it. Not to mention he sure did well last night 1-2-3. He wont strike out the side and get 3 and out every time no one will. Wait till A Miller pitches the first time for Cleveland. Speaking guess it a good thing Cubs didn’t give up the farm for KC Davis they have a great closer/relief pitcher out for the season. You don’t know what Chapman will do this Winter – Cubs sure have enough to sign him considering they offered him an 65 million dollar extension before the Yankee trade. but he just wanted to wait. But you talk without knowing anything that going on behind the scenes like the idiot you are. Go chase your invisible Pokemon it more you level.
Thank you michaelw. Just about to point out Chapman’s stats. I love our “stupid” portion of our fan base that has cried about Chapman after giving up 1 hit…1 damn hit. In his 3.2 innings since joining the team, he has given up 1 hit, 1 ER, and has 6 K’s. This amounts to an .083 opponent BA and 0.27 ERA.
Thanks captaintenpin – I usually don’t go off the handle like that. I’m just so sick of people and trolls and haters that know nothing about MLB. NOT 1 could ever run a team.
I tell you what I rather have Chapman in the 9th than anyone else if the game was on the line. Pitching TWO not 1 4 inning outs is asking a lot. Not excuses. but it is. I probably would have left Rondo in there, but then again you go to the Heat when in need, just didn’t work out. Was it a bust NO, One game. Does CK win every game? Does A Miller give up Runs?
People are fast to judge about prospects that are going no where. Hey they might end up with them back in Chicago – Ask the A’s lol. People are dumb or they are just in denial about the Cubs. This is my first year on the boards, with MLB, not my on the boards in sports I dealt with it with the Bulls with Jordan also. People said getting Rodman was stupid also. They talk about future. People need to understand the system, the Cubs, the way it works and most of all the meaning of the word. If you don’t think the Cubs will adjust to needs, every year they are crazy. The core of the Cubs which is about 9 players will be there till at the very very least 2020 to more to the likes of 2024 if not beyond. mean time you ahve FA, money, trade dead lines – with tweaking every year. That why it not only about 2016 but beyond. Maybe that why trolls and haters are that way. 10 years ago these discussions and trolls wouldn’t exists. Simple fact. ENVY is the word.
/KBBook
Woah woah woah bro. Don’t give the ricketts that much credits. He has nothing to do with those trades. The only thing he did was borrow his father’s money to buy the cubs. He’s the furthest thing from being a baseball fan let alone a cubs fans. If you heard his story he saw one game in 1984 in the bleachers. That doesn’t make you a fan or bleacher bum.
what happened to that Corey Black or whatever his name was? Minor League reliever that threw really hard.
He was converted from a starter to reliever and experienced a couple (relatively minor) arm issues along the way. He has not really regained his form yet and IIRC will be exposed in the Rule 5 this winter.
Yeah he fell of radar…throws hard just not for strikes
He’s at AAA, where he still throws really hard. Once in a while, he even lucks into the strike zone.
Last I remember hearing about him was when he broke Hunter Pence’s arm in spring training.
Minor league pitcher Jesus Castillo going to Angels.
Guess this means Grimm is odd man out..he was so good last year too…thus the life of a reliever..Montgomery needs to get his stuff together
September 1st is only 31 days away. Grimm won’t be gone for long and odds are he makes the playoff roster….. assuming they make the playoffs. Also, if Montgomery continues to suck pole he will be sent down and Grimm called back up before Sept. 1.
KB – That must be right you the Card fan who is fighting for your life to get that 2nd WC spot. If you have sugar plum ideas the Cards will catch the Cubs in the Division your up for a BIG disappointment. But your the type of person who looks at the schedule and figures out wins and loses before the games are played. I got you read like a book loser.
Card fans need to get over themselves and face reality the sooner the better. Unless you have ideas that Cheap fat @$$ Mo will hire another hacker at minimum wage to help his team again this off season.
Didn’t we want tampas pitchers? Matt Moore just went to sf.. Why are we getting relievers if we wanted long term controllable sp
That’s more of an offseason move just doesn’t make sense right now..Tampa would want players off the ML club
Jesus Castillo – Low A starter. baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=cast…
Must be a great feeling to leave a loser of an organization.
Yeah, and he’ll feel right at home joining the biggest losers in professional sports.
Hows that help the Angels win in 2016 – People in real life don’t live in the past. We get busy living or get busy dying
Cubs – Living
Angels Dying
Angels need to free Trout and save him from embarrassment, he deserves better.- But the owner too selfish and just wants the ticket sales to stuff in his pocket. MO from St.L 2nd Cousin lol
you must be a Cubs fan. if you are, rethink calling other franchises losers. 108 years
Castillo has decent stats for Short Season A this season, but he is not in the Cubs top 30 prospects. I think it’s a fair trade. I know the writers are busy today and this is nitpicking, but Castillo is at ss-A not low-A
Just shows once again the KAKA brains running and ruining the Angels ….
U guys coulda had vogelbomb!
As a cards fan this is a bit of a head scratcher for me? Is he really worth a roster spot on the already loaded 25 man?
Cubs adding proven relief pitching is a bad thing? I seem to recall a certain month called September? 40 man roster? They have a month to pick the perfect bullpen for the playoffs. It was a good move by far I would have added more starting pitching or maybe move soler prospects or move more depth we have for young starting pitching with control
Good point in looking towards the September roster.
Although, I still think a mediocre reliever is a no value add to a bullpen that has few weaknesses.
After looking at the Matt Moore deal to SF makes me loathe the Montgomery and Chapman deals that much more. IMO they likely could have had BOTH Moore and Colome for LESS than what they gave up to get both Montgomery and Chapman. Colome has been a beast this year in the pen, and using Moore in the bullpen is extremely intriguing to me. His 96 MPH fastball would likely resurface coming out of the pen only working 1 inning a night. Could’ve been a cheaper version of Miller IMO. Then next year they’d have the option to decline Hammel’s option and promote Moore to the rotation…… or keep Hammel and keep Moore in the pen if he does in fact dominate out of the pen like I think he would. THEN after 2017 when Arrieta, Lackey, and Hammel will all definitely be free agents, they’d still have Moore as an option to return to starting duties. Oh yeah…. and they’d still have Alex friggin Colome rocking out in the pen too. Looking at what the Giants gave up for Moore alone, I’d say that Torres, McKinney, and Warren would’ve been MORE than enough to land Moore, and Vogelbach, Blackburn, and Crawford would’ve been more than enough to land Colome. Which would you rather have….. Moore and Colome coming out of the pen or Montgomery and Chapman. IMO, I prefer the former. Not only does it offer more versatility since Moore can start as well be converted into a reliever, but Moore and Colome BOTH come with several years of team control. Colome has about as many years of control as Montgomery, difference between the two is that Colome actually has a track record of being a SOLID reliever. Moore has 3 years of club option years on his contract remaining versus Chapman’s 2+ months of control.
Missed golden opportunity IMO.
Matt Moore is a cost controlled, Middle of the Rotation starter, and you think that Torres, Burgers McKinney, and Adam Warren could have snagged Moore + Colome from the Rays? I too play MLB The Show Franchise modes with Force Trades on.
KB Glad you don’t run a MLB team better yet anything. Do you drive, please let me know if you are on the road so I can stay off of it. That dumbest post you have wrote yet. I let someone else explain it. Your not worth the air or space you take up.
All his posts (KB) are dumb. I think he is some high school kid
I owe the Halo fans an apology saying their Fans and Management are “rediculous” not trading Mike Trout. After reading a post from a Braves fa, the Braves are really in the same boat. The Braves should roll the dice and trade their best player, Freeman, to continue with the rebuilding process. The Braves could send Freeman, Vizcaino, Garcia, and Jenkins to the Astros and get back young building blocks in Bregman, Reed, plus others who will be ready by the time the Braves are ready to compete in 2020
Bigpapi & HL3 confirmed.
so no more comments about trading trout on every single article????
rediculous isn’t’ a word.
Also, go away. This is not about the braves. Your off topic posts in every article would have you banned on any site with decent moderators.
St. Louis wanted Joe Smith bad. Nice steal from a divisional rival.
Relic – LMAO I didn’t know that Hahaha MO go to Work Force temp agency they have hackers looking for jobs at minimum wage right up your alley.
MLBTR is amazing…But seeing KB post on every Cubs post like he knows anything at all makes me hate this website. Is there an ignore feature anywhere?
I had to read a week of comparisons of Vogelbach to Schwarber. I don’t have time to read his synopsis of how Jesus Castillo is going to find the real Jesus and turn into the next Pedro Martinez.
@ zan4pm You need to go to the Cubs web site and read kidloog post he has KB beat. Look at the post of last nights game. lol. All the trolls and haters hid. But they came out like worms after a spring rain in the 3rd inning. _ Cowards – Losers Low self esteem, and no life probably no friends – So the hide behind a computer with their MLB expert ideas. good thing they are not real sports casters. The TV station would be off the air in 10 minutes.
Cubs are going to have a lot of heavy lifting to do this offseason in the bullpen market (they are going to be active in the TOR trade market too). Chapman, Wood, Smith, Cahill all UFAs and they likely won’t pick up Nathan’s $4+M option when adding in roster time and games bonuses. Surprised Theo went the rental route this deadline when he indicated he didn’t want to go that route months ago. World Series Champs or it was a failure.
There’s a very good chance they have Chapman signed but won’t say anything til after the postseason.
A very good chance? Based on what? Why would he agree to that this close to free agency and what possible reason would the two sides have to not announce it?
Bill Smith I agree – but he had no choice. They did try other options first – Good thing KC deal didn’t go through that would have been a bust and disaster,
If I’m a betting man and just my intake at what I’ve heard and BTW not an expert but my Uncle is a Chicago fireman and is close friends with some people in the front office of the Chicago Cubs. Not that everything is 100% for sure.
But if I were betting and doing a real educated guess Chapman will be re offered his 65 million 4 year deal. In order for the Cubs not to get him someone will have to beat that deal. not saying they wont but that what it will take.
Cahill will NOT be resigned – Pending Nathan rest of the season will determine his future with the Cubs.
Smith will also depend on his production the rest of the year. It unlikely but possible.
The Cubs will resign Woody at another 2 year deal
While the whole world thinks Fowler is a FA next year he is NOT! He did sign a 2 year deal. The Cubs can buy him out which they will NOT or he can Opt out. Odds are they will try an extension with him.
The Cubs will also work on JA extention somewhere around 6 years
The Cubs will shop this Winter but it is very unlikely they will buy and save for 2018 instead. Except minor league deals.
Fair to note the Cubs were going to go all out on Stasburg with BIG money before he signed his extension with Wash.
Other than that it will be a boring Winter this year sorry to say Cubs fans but an exciting Spring in 2017
There you have it from the top or as far as the top you can get lmao lol haha
Chapman seems like a guy that gets comfortable somewhere and doesn’t want to leave…he’ll resign…Arrieta is gone, cya later…not worth it. Lock up little Greg Maddux aka Kyle Hendricks..yeah I said it
Fowler will opt out. He will be a free agent. He will likely get a pretty decent contract. The cubs will not extend him because they have an already crowded outfield and almora. They were willing to go into the season with Heyward in cf until fowler landed in their laps. I see no reason why they would reverse course and now look to extend him.
This whole Jake extension thing has already been tried. Unless he lowers his demands, he’s gone.
Where are you getting that they were gonna go all out for strasburg? Source?
BREAKING NEWS!
ST.L MAKES A BLOCK BUSTER MOVE!
: MO GOES TO WORK FORCE TEMP AGENCY IN DOWN TOWN ST.LOUIS AND HIRES WILLY THE HACKER AT MINIMUM WAGE IN EXCHANGE FOR FREE ADVERTISING AT THE BALL PARK! ROTFLMAO
Nice one Bill … U just let us all know that u have no pull no balls no shame and no u can’t stand up for yourself this all falls on u …. The players are counting on u what u running here a Trap house? Might as well let mike go too and let him shine they want rings on their fingers not rings around their eyes … I love Timmy but u should have seen that coming …another Hamilton dream… Just shows that no one can run this boat … By the way next year is going to be even worse…. Let’s all head over to Disneyland as this team is Mickey moused together and enjoy a real joke or two …..
At least we got something for Smith. Should have packaged him with Santiago but whatever….
So Grimm is likely the odd man out? I’m guessing if Nathan blows up he’ll be back.
Yup
Breaking news Stl traded for my stool and Pham made dinner