Cubs sign Schierholtz, lose Beliveau and Rosario – MLB News
It is as busy and eventful as it gets. This offseason has been unremittingly active, and – as the Cubs hope, rewarding too.
The Chicago Cubs finalized another deal on Friday, December 21, that involved Nate Schierholtz on a one-year, $2.25 million contract. With .257 batting average – wherein Schierholtz played for the San Francisco Giants and the Philadelphia Phillies this past
season, he fared well until he fractured his right big toe on August 13 and was subsequently sent to the disabled list.
Overall, in his six seasons, Schierholtz has maintained a relatively good .270 batting average with 24 homers, 123 RBIs and 75 doubles. Bringing him to the Cubs gives the Cubs more space to manoeuvre now.
Also, the Cubs’ roster stands at 39 now. All that they need, after going for multiple deals in the last two weeks, is another player. And as the Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer indicated, the club is open for another outfielder.
Importantly, what signing Schierholtz does for the Cubs is to allow them to play David DeJesus in the centre. With left-handed Schierholtz there – who can also play in the right, the Cubs will need only another outfielder capable of playing both right and
centre.
Before being dealt to the Philadelphia Phillies, The 6-foot-2, 217-pound Schierholtz was associated with the San Francisco Giants, spending his professional career with them. With experience and consistency that he brings with himself, he is expected to
strengthen the Cubs offensively.
On the other hand, the Cubs also lost their two minor-league pitching prospects on Friday as they finalized the deal with Schierholtz. It was the San Francisco Giants who claimed right-hander Sandy Rosario, and the Texas Rangers claimed left-handed reliever
Jeff Beliveau.
Jeff Beliveau had 22 appearances for the Cubs this past season and was subsequently designated for assignment to open a spot for the Japanese reliever Kyuji Fujikawa.
Be that as it may, before he was claimed by the Chicago Cubs, Beliveau was claimed by the Boston Red Sox from the Miami Marlins, and then traded to Oakland Athletics for pitcher Graham Godfrey. There were a total of five transactions that he was involved
in this winter.
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