When it comes to AAA roster filler, the Chicago Cubs have a pipeline to the New York Yankees.
After earlier this year sending Alberto Gonzalez to the Yankees, today the Cubs sent Brent Lillibridge to New York for a player to be named later or cash. Lillibridge, who made the Cubs out of Spring Training after coming on a minor league deal, was quickly sent to AAA Iowa because he couldn’t get a hit. Like, any of them.
But Lillibridge does have the upside of a nice bench utility player, given that he can play all over the field. He was hitting .281/.331/.425 at AAA Iowa, but the Yankees have had a rash of injuries and can use all the depth they can get.
Don’t expect the Cubs to get much in return here – generally, when you see “or cash” appended to one of these deals, the list of players from which the Cubs will get to choose does not include anyone who would qualify as a decent prospect.
Still, it’s a trade! And it clears up a little AAA positional roster space for a promotion, I suppose.