Red Sox Trade Pitcher Travis Lakins to Cubs
By Brendan Balsamo
The Boston Red Sox engineeed a swap Tuesday, shipping Travis Lakins to the North Side of Chicago. The right-handed reliever will join the Cubs in exchange for either cash considerations or a player to be named later.
Lakins made his MLB debut in April of last year, and pitched to the tune of a 3.86 ERA and a 0-1 record over 16 total appearances.
The #Red Sox trade RHP Travis Lakins to the #Cubs for a player to be named or cash considerations.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 21, 2020
Lakins is just 25 years old, and pitched at Ohio State before being selected by Boston in the sixth round of the 2015 MLB Draft. He ended up boucing between the bigs and Triple-A after making his Red Sox debut, and will have a revived chance to prove himself in his new home.
The Cubs have acquired righty Travis Lakins from Boston for a PTBNL (or cash). He's 25. 16 career games in the big leagues.
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) January 21, 2020
After acquiring reliever Matt Hall, the Red Sox designated Lakins for assignment on Friday to clear a roster spot.
This move provides another option to consider in the Cubs bullpen, which was already crowded to begin with. Front office boss Theo Epstein decided to pad the bullpen after they had their struggles in 2019.
Travis Lakins and Casey Sadler are going to be major dependable arms in the bullpen by July. I’m being serious. Remember this. #Cubs https://t.co/w2JYjLlaEm
— John Stocco (@realJohnStocco) January 21, 2020
After missing the playoffs last year, the Cubs are not yet ready to start a rebuild, and still aim for a spirited playoff push in 2020. Bullpens win games, and Lakins presents a low-risk addition who can work to earn his spot in the spring.