The Cubs have acquired Justin Germano from the Red Sox in exchange for cash considerations, according to a team press release. The veteran right-hander was designated for assignment by Boston earlier this week to make room for Jacoby Ellsbury's return from the disabled list. Germano has a 4.91 ERA and a 1.88 K/BB ratio in 80 Major League games (36 of them starts) with the Red Sox, Indians, Padres and Reds since 2004. He made just one appearance with the Sox this season, though Germano posted a 2.40 ERA as a starter for Triple-A Pawtucket.
It appears as though Germano could be rotation depth in case the Cubs deal Matt Garza or Ryan Dempster. Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald tweets that prospect Casey Coleman was scratched from his Triple-A start today in case Germano can't make it to St. Louis in time for the Cubs' game with the Cardinals on Friday. Dempster is scheduled to start that game, though we heard earlier today that the Cubs will have a backup starter — clearly either Coleman or Germano — on hand should Dempster be traded before Friday night. This is just a cautionary move from the Cubs, as MLB.com's Carrie Muskat (Twitter link) reports that a Dempster trade is not imminent.
In a corresponding move, the Cubs designated Jairo Asencio for assignment. Chicago claimed Asencio off waivers when the right-hander was DFA'ed by the Indians in May. The 28-year-old Asencio has a 4.91 ERA in 30 games (40 1/3 innings) with the Indians and Cubs this season.
John LeClair
I feel as if The Red Sox and Cubs share the same front office but run 2 different teams… (I realize why that is) But like really is Boston/Chicago the only teams you guys can trade with? I feel as if Theo and company will be screwed in like 5 – 7 years if they’re still there because they will no longer really know the Red Sox farm system anymore and won’t be able to do as many transactions together.
dudemanbro
wat
Doug Engel
If Theo knows the Red Sox system well, wouldn’t it make sense that he would know better than anyone what minor leaguers would be worth acquiring? I’m glad he’s taking advantage of that now before things change too much over there. Of course, Theo has made trades with other teams since coming here (Rockies and Reds) so it’s not like he’s only going to deal with the Red Sox for his entire time here.
TheReturnOfMrBlanks
Don’t forget the Hoyer/Rizzo joined at the hip move, I swear Hoyer told Rizzo to play like crap last year lol
Mark Baron
This is extremely common. When a long-term executive leaves one organization for another, he has in-depth first-hand knowledge of that former team. It only makes sense that this is the organization he would make several deals with.
Make peace with the goat
I think this means someone else is on the way out along with Dempster, Garza, and probably Camp and hopefully Soriano. (Hey we can dream right?)
TheReturnOfMrBlanks
Ya even though he’s been pretty darn good this year
docbot
In other news… yawn.
chris_synan1
that is so random
Goat_Rider
The Cubs Acquire got me excited…and then all downhill from there
Doug Engel
Could be the precursor to a Dempster trade? Dempster is scheduled to start tomorrow night and if he gets traded then someone will have to take that start. The Cubs don’t have a long reliever in their bullpen at the moment, Volstad pitched the other night at AAA, Coleman is pitching tonight at AAA, Rodrigo Lopez pitched within the past five days, Wells is on the Minor League DL, and Chris Rusin (Friday’s scheduled AAA starter) has a 4.55 ERA this season. My guess is they are acquiring Germano for a spot start on Friday in case Dempster is traded tonight. And why dump Asencio unless a trade was about to happen? Stay tuned…
User 4245925809
There went the key piece in the Dempster deal.. guess they truly didn’t want him after all 😉
bmoneyy20
this small move should start the cubs bigger moves. dempster should not start another game for the cubs, would/could be a huge mistake and should really be traded tonight. be interesting to see if anyone else goes with him and this will set the market frenzy for garza over next 2 weeks.
rfffr
I don’t think Casey Coleman could be considered a prospect. He’s filler roster space at best. Maybe they could turn him into a hitter since he can’t pitch.
mgsports
Paul H. Carlos M.,Barney,Soto, David. D.,Randy Wells could also be on the way out
Thomas Weinger
why do we keep pickin up Bostons dfa’s?
drjayphd
I hope that was a lot of cash. Personally, I figured that given Germano’s stint with the Red Sox (one game, yes, but he stopped the bleeding against the Yankees after Franklin Morales came down with Dice-K’s Lurgy in the first game of a doubleheader, saving their bullpen for the nightcap), he could at least be worth an organizational filler guy or something.