The Cubs have claimed right-hander Ryan Cook off waivers from the Red Sox, the team told reporters, including MLB.com’s Carrie Muskat (Twitter link). Cook leaves Boston as he came, via the wire; the club nabbed him late this season from the A’s.
It’s been a rather stunning fall for the 28-year-old righty, who compiled 190 2/3 innings of 2.60 ERA pitching between 2012 and 2014. He struck out 9.3 and walked 3.5 batters per nine in that span, with a groundball rate hovering just above 45%.
The 2015 season was more or less a disaster for Cook, however, after shoulder difficulties delayed his start. Cook ultimately threw only 8 2/3 innings in the majors, allowing a stunning 18 earned runs on seven walks (against just four strikeouts). And he was far from his dominant self at the Triple-A level, though he managed better numbers at that level in a short stint at the end of the season with Pawtucket.
I know Cook was hurt much of 2015, but wasnt he pretty good in Oakland?
Low risk, high reward pickup by the Cubs. Ryan Cook was solid in relief for the Oakland A’s in 2012, even making the A.L. All-Star team that year. He was also decent in their bullpen in 2013 and 2014 before falling on hard times this past season with the A’s, then Boston following his trade there at the July 31st non-waiver deadline.
Pretty much a given that the Cubs will take a chance on someone that the Red Sox didn’t have a spot for at this point.
Again Theo get’s a pass but so tired being West Boston or Eastern San Diego
Yeah…darn that Cashner for Rizzo trade or signing Jon Lester to start the winning ways!
But to call the Cubs “West Boston” or “Eastern San Diego” is unfair…they’ve developed a TON of guys (Bryant/Schwarber) that factor into their current/future success. But acquisition-wise, there are a TON of guys that are non-SD/BOS ties.
Jake Arrieta
Addison Russell
Joe Maddon
Dexter Fowler
Miguel Montero
Hector Rondon (Rule 5 Draft Pick)
Strop
Chris Coghlan
Theo’s notorious for giving high-pedigree players a second chance (Coghlan) in a new scenery. This guy had his big years in Oakland…not Boston…It’s no shock that Boston/San Diego/Oakland are places that Theo targets players. They use the same algorithms to determine run-values of players that Theo/Jed brought to Chicago. #Moneyball
Just another case of the Cubs conducting asset management. They are buying low with upside potential.
It didn’t cost anything so good job for Cubbies