The fringe roster transactions are flying fast and furious this afternoon …
Today the Chicago Cubs signed utility infielder Donnie Murphy, formerly of the Marlins, to a minor league deal. He’ll head to AAA Iowa, where there is a strong lack of infield depth (thanks in small part to Alberto Gonzalez being called up to the big league team).
Murphy, 30, did the utility thing in Miami for parts of the last three seasons. He’s a light stick, to say the least – .205/.270/.373 – but he is a quality defender at second and third base, and an average-ish defender at shortstop. That has a little bit of value as a depth piece at Iowa, which is all that Murphy is.
Because the Cubs added Alberto Gonzalez to the 40-man roster, sending him back down to Iowa when Darwin Barney returns is going to require him clearing waivers. If he’s claimed, now the Cubs at least have Murphy in place.