The Cubs officially got nothing for Chris Coghlan.
I know, you don’t really care about that, but I just wanted to type it. A couple Spring Trainings ago, the Cubs were in a bind when they learned that they could surprisingly get Dexter Fowler back on a one-year deal, but would have to clear up some space to make it happen – and quickly. So, in the morning of the day Fowler strolled into Spring Training and shocked everyone, the Cubs announced a trade with the Oakland A’s, sending a still-then-fairly-valuable Chris Coghlan to the A’s for pitching prospect Aaron Brooks.
It was not an overwhelming return, but, at the time, there was a lot to like about Brooks as starting depth and/or a possible future bullpen piece, and when you’re up against a wall, you take what you can get. (Of course, later that year, the Cubs reacquired Coghlan from the A’s for Arismendy Alcantara (who has not succeeded since), and Coghlan went on to play very well for the Cubs once again.)
But it wasn’t to be for Brooks and the Cubs. His two-ish years in the organization were marked by injury and ineffectiveness, and the Cubs waived him this weekend in the process of opening up a spot on the 40-man roster for catcher Rene Rivera.
The Brewers have claimed Brooks, and he gets added to their 40-man roster. Now 27, it’s still possible Brooks emerges from a lost couple years as a future big leaguer. Even if not, hopefully the Cubs didn’t teach him all the secrets of the organization!