The Cubs have traded outfielder Chris Coghlan to the Athletics for pitcher Aaron Brooks, the Cubs announced via press release.
Coghlan, 30, won the Rookie of the Year award in 2009. Last season, he hit .250/.341/.443 in 503 plate appearances. The lefty hitter was mostly used against right-handed pitching. He has fairly substantial career platoon splits.
Owed $4.8MM in his final season of club control, Coghlan will add more depth to the A’s outfield. Khris Davis, Josh Reddick, and Billy Burns are penciled in as the starters with Coco Crisp, Mark Canha, and Sam Fuld in the mix too. Given his success against right-handed pitching, Coghlan could platoon with Canha as the team’s designated hitter. He also has experience at second and third base.
Brooks, 25, was acquired by the A’s late last season in the Ben Zobrist trade. He made nine starts for the A’s in 11 appearances with forgettable results. His 6.71 ERA was a sight worse than his 6.18 K/9 and 2.47 BB/9. The righty will likely serve as bullpen and rotation depth for the Cubs.
Interestingly, Coghlan appeared to be the Cubs fourth outfielder. Now Arismendy Alcantara and Matt Szczur are the top backup outfielders on the depth chart. Of course, that also overlooks Javier Baez who is expected to be used in a super utility role. The trade could indicate confidence in Baez’s conversion.
It’s possible the Cubs are narrowing on a free agent outfield acquisition. Top available names include Austin Jackson, David DeJesus, and Shane Victorino. Ian Desmond could also be viewed as an option.
Just the sort of faded but young starting pitching prospect the Cubs love. Good to see the Cubs and Athletics still getting along.
A’s got there Ben Zoberist type that they like and a good player with Coglin & Maddon got his job to mix everyone in . Too much talent Soler is better in the lineup as the right hand bat Fowler not a straight playton but Maddon can find away to get bats now. Now who’s in Szuir or Asmindry Alcantra wide open for the 25th spot. No trade needed further
This push Scwhaber to be the catcher and rookie Wilson Contrasa back to a September call up to replace Ross who will be batting .180 And will move to the coaching staffPlus
Can he still play second or third?
I thought Coghlan could’ve been worth something. Not sure Aaron Brooks is more than a depth AAA guy. Wish they would’ve just kept Coghlan as insurance for Soler, but oh well
Looking at what Coghlan’s done the past 2 years, this is a steal for the A’s, even if he’s a free agent after next season.
I know the Cubs don’t have much room for Coughlan, but it seems we didn’t get much in return. Anyone have more info on Brooks?
He was the throw-in in the Zobrist trade last year from KC to Oakland. Seems like a fringe top-30 organization guy with poor numbers. Not too excited. Seems like an addition for Iowa personally
I think there’s a little more than meets the eye with Brooks.. He flashed some potential in a few of his starts with the A’s last year, and his overall MLB numbers were inflated due to his disaster start in Toronto (which was his 4th MLB start). When he was on, his changeup was nasty and his FB was touching 92-93. Wouldn’t shock me to see the Cubs turn him into a very useful backend starter. His first 2 starts with the A’s were actually pretty impressive to watch. Could be 6 years of a useful backend starter (or more, if the Cubs believe they can get more out of him) for 1 year of Coghlan.
Impressive starts? He had a couple of good starts but most of them were bad or very bad. He will give you a ERA around 5 so nothing special. He is a #6 starter on almost every team. A emergency starter and long man out of the pen.
Oddly enough, the one start he had with KC (in 2014) was also in Toronto and he did not even get out of the first inning.
Baez is soler insurance. Good to see keeping both
I’m fine with keeping Baez too. Just didn’t see the need to dump Coghlan for almost nothing
We just signed fowler
Yeah…but still, Coghlan has some value, Brooks…not so much.
Brooks = Jake Arrietta 2.0
You just signed Fowler? Have a pic of you guys making the deal? Wish I worked for an MLB team.
Buried in Cubs’ lineup only to be traded and buried in A’s lineup.
Wow, I’m stunned. Coghlan was a useful and honestly kind of important piece for the Cubs as the backup to Schwarber/Soler in the corners. They gave him away like he was burning a hole in their bench. Why??
He was also unhappy in his role
Coghlan was a great 4th outfielder for the Cubs, but the Cubs really need their 4th OF to be a CF since they don’t have a true one on the roster. I’m guessing this signals a return for Austin Jackson, who would be considerably more likely to sign w/ a team as a 4th OF than as a 5th OF…
The return on Coghlan doesn’t appear to be great. Brooks has struggled greatly at the big league level, and he never really was a top prospect during his time in the minors. Perhaps this was just the Cubs throwing Billy Beane a bone to maintain their solid working relationship following the Russell fleecing…?
That would be the one way this all makes sense. Jackson has been a perfect fit all along. I’d be ok with this move if they bring him back now.
Throwing the A’s a courtesy bone after the Russell deal makes sense too…
Always kind of felt like the Russell deal was Beane throwing Chicago a courtesy bone after the stealing of Josh Donaldson for the corpse of Rich Harden!
But yeah, man, I love me some Addison Russell. Although, the A’s then flipped Jeff Samardzija for three starting players on their 25 man roster, which was a great move.
I had the right idea that this was leading to the Cubs bringing back a CF – but Fowler?! Holy crap.
Interesting trade. Makes for a lot of OFers in OAK.
Agree with the general opinion on this deal.
Cubs didn’t need coghlan and their 4th OF should be more of a defense first guy, but Coghlan can hit and you would have thought they could have gotten a better arm back,
I’m 99% sure the White Sox plan on giving Avi one last chance at the starting RF gig this year (which I’m fine with if they weren’t going to land a stud player anyways), but this would have been a great platoon partner. Especially if they didn’t have to give up anything like this deal…
Maybe making room for Matt Murton (fingers crossed)
Matt Murton? Now that is a name I haven’t heard in awhile. He was never given a solid chance in MLB and the last I heard he turned into a hitting machine in Japan. Always liked his attitude and the way he played the game.
This may be a precursor to the A’s making another move here shortly. Idk, I don’t see the need for Cohglan as a 5th outfielder behind Reddick, Davis, Burns & Crisp. Can see one of those guys getting dealt to make Coghlan the 4th outfielder which would make a lot more sense. I’d say Crisp makes the most sense but he is due 11M this year & is coming off an injury plagued 15′ so we shall see.
Seems as if its probably a precursor for the Cubs as well, just in terms of a signing. I think it’ll either be Jackson or Victorino most likely.
It was actually Fowler. I thought that deal was long done, but oh well.
Well that escalated quickly, I was just going to agree with you and boom! I wonder if Fowler pulled a Deandre Jordan on Baltimore? Wow, should be interesting to hear the follow up news on what happened. The Cubs just improved what was already an impressive offseason.
It was actually Fowler and Victorino. Wow!!
Coghlan being a super sub helps A’s with roster crunch they were feeling…. allows then to DFA Fuld and option Sogard with Coghlan being a super utility ‘ben zobrist type” who will likely get time at all 3 OF spots, 3b/2b (and maybe even 1B). Coco isn’t useful at this point and is a burned roster spot so most don’t even view him as OF depth, but rather a likely DL stash.
I wonder if they are gonna dfa Fuld and then trade for him at the deadline again. That was a head scratcher the first time.
I’m thinking Austin Jackson may sign soon with the Cubs. They need center depth more than corner depth.
I was wrong. What the hell happened?
Wow, nice move for Oakland — seems like a 2012-2013 throwback, in which they relied heavily on platoons and depth at each position. I really like Coghlan as a 4th OF, and he was great in Chicago last year: 16 HR/ 41 RBI/ 11 SB/ .341 OBP at in 440 ABs posting a 3.3 WAR. I guess this also spells the end for Sam Fuld at the A’s 4th OF.
Brooks showed flashes in Oakland last year after coming over as a throw-in piece in the Ben Zobrist deal (the prize is top prospect Sean Manaea, who may very well make the rotation out of Spring Training). As currently constructed, he figured to be about #7 or #8 on the A’s SP depth chart, behind Sonny Gray, Jesse Hahn, Chris Bassitt, Rich HIll, and Kendall Graveman, right in there with recovering Jarrod Parker and Henderson Alvarez, and stud prospects Sean Manaea and Dillon Overton.
His changeup is nice and he pitches to contact a lot. I imagine he’d benefit from a better defense than he had in Oakland in 2015, but he doesn’t project to be more than AAA depth or a #5 SP in times of injury to a solid rotation, of which Chicago has. Seems to be a SP depth move for the Cubs. Great move for the A’s, and goodluck to the Cubs in 2016, that team looks great on paper and I hope they have a great year.
I’m also now a little concerned that another move is coming for Oakland…..praying they don’t ship Josh Reddick out of town, as he is very underrated and has a great contract. A’s beat writer just tweeted, “Making for crowded #Athletics roster. Gotta think another trade might come eventually, & Forst says a possibility. #Athletics’
I’m also now a little concerned,They need to sign Reddick to a new deal.I would rather see them ship Sam Fuld and his rally killing bat out of town,and go around to every team and beg them to take Billy Butler.
This move strikes me as a move where the FO believes they can contend for a playoff spot this year and are trying to upgrade liabilities (fuld and sogard) and have enough depth to where you don’t have much of a drop off if guys get hurt. I’d be shocked if they flip Reddick because I don’t see many moves where you could flip Reddick and actually improve the ’16 team (and Coghlan is only a 1 year answer, so….).
Holy crap, the Cubs just re-signed Fowler. I thought his deal was done with Baltimore??
Just heard that too. Sounds pretty shady.
source?
Cubs Twitter.
Ken Rosenthal Twitter.
SI MLB Twitter.
Just to name a few.
1 year deal with mutual option.. What on Earth?
Maybe another chance to hit free agency next year when the free agent class isn’t as strong?
Maybe this is just saving $$ type move. Hopefully it means that Baez is adapting to CF much better than expected – anyone have info on how he is doing in winterball?
Fowler is a much better CF than Heyward, Coghlan and Soler. He’s going to be the man there in 2016 and maybe beyond.
Don’t really see Baez as anything more than trade bait. BTW Baez, Soler or Schwarber and a minor leaguer or two should be able to bring back Chris Archer – that’s a move the Cubs need to be making with this window of contention.
A’s cleaned up in this trade, Brooks is horrible, Coghlan is the Zobrist-type guy they acquired last season.
Wonder if Beane is going to see if he can move Butler next, so Davis can DH like he needs to and use a Coghlan/Crisp platoon in LF.
THIS
Dylan Bundy to Cubs
Josh Reddick to Orioles
Jorge Soler to A’s
Cubs lose that trade
So the cubs get a pitcher with no options thats off hurt for soler? Bundy only has value to a non competitive team this year that can let him start and fail and not count on him for a playoff push.
Works with me as an A’s fan
Auto trades….ON!
Not if Bundy hits his ceiling – keep in mind he’s still on everyone’s top 100 prospect lists and very young. He’s a risk but one the Cubs could take.
Or he hits his ceiling and becomes a dominant cheap ace – Reddick for Bundy straight up works too if you think Soler can bring back more.
Agreed. My exasperation over this deal isn’t as high once I saw that we brought Fowler back, but it looks like Brooks just isn’t any good, so I think the A’s killed this deal, but I’ve also always liked Coghlan
Cubs just needed to free up some money to sign Fowler. And a nice gesture to Oakland for the Addison Russell deal.
The Russell deal was a nice gesture from Oakland for the Josh Donaldson deal, in which the Cubs gave Oakland Donaldson, the foundation of their amazing 2012-2014 run, for the remains of Rich Harden, thanks again! Hope Addison provides the same for the Cubbies!
Wonder if Beane is working on a multi-team deal that uses an outline (read: includes other parts) that loses them Reddick and gains them Soler with the Cubs getting a SP back from the 3rd team?
Who would need/want Reddick in a walk year who has pitching to give up?
Good riddance, Chris Coghlan.
-Jung Ho Kang
Not so fast, Mr. Kang. Pittsburgh comes to Oakland for a 3 game series July 1-3!
I thought Butler was the DH.
He likely is the majority DH
Butler is bad at hitting and Davis is better at hitting but bad at defense and needs to be a DH as soon as possible, so Butler, while being most likely the opening day DH, might not be the DH nor in the org come July.
Could just put Coglan at 2B Full Time.