The Chicago Cubs made a minor move on Tuesday by trading pitcher Michael Rucker to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for cash considerations. Chicago previously designated Rucker for assignment after signing Hector Neris to a one-year contract.
Rucker was an 11th-round draft pick by the Cubs in 2016 before being selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2019 Rule 5 Draft. He never made an appearance for the Orioles and was therefore returned to the Cubs in March of 2020.
Once the Cubs officially signed Neris, Rucker was deemed the odd man out. The move to DFA Rucker helped clear room on the 40-man roster for a Cubs team that was in need of some dominant late-inning arms to pair with their ascending closer in Adbert Alzolay.
As he enters his age-30 season, Rucker will aim to find a home in a Phillies bullpen that finished just outside the top 10 in ERA last season.
news on Friday as the team announced that Theo Epstein was returning to the franchise as a part owner and senior advisor. The 50-year-old previously served as the Red Sox general manager from 2003 to 2011, leading Boston to two World Series titles during that stretch.
Epstein left the Red Sox for the Chicago Cubs in 2011 to become the president of baseball operations in the Windy City. The Cubs made the playoffs five times during his tenure, which was highlighted by the 2016 World Series win that snapped the 71-year “Curse of the Billy Goat.”
