Cubs acquire left-handed pitcher Sean Newcomb from Atlanta |
CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs tonight acquired left-handed pitcher Sean Newcomb from the Atlanta Braves for right-handed pitcher Jesse Chavez and a cash consideration.
Newcomb, 28, is 24-23 with 18 holds, two saves and a 4.25 ERA (181 ER/383.1 IP) in 144 major league games (57 starts) spanning six seasons for the Braves beginning with his major league debut in 2017. He has struck out 390 batters, good for an average of 9.2 strikeouts per 9.0 innings, with 204 walks allowed. The six-foot five-inch Newcomb last season made 32 appearances out of the bullpen for the World Series Champion Braves and finished 2-0 with two holds and a 4.73 ERA (17 ER/32.1 IP). He averaged 11.97 strikeouts per 9.0 innings with 43 strikeouts in 32.1 frames. Newcomb began last season at Triple-A Gwinnett and went 3-0 with four saves and a 1.62 ERA (3 ER/16.2 IP) in 15 relief appearances. Newcomb was a member of Atlanta’s starting rotation in 2017-18 prior to transitioning primarily to the bullpen in 2019, a season in which he went 6-3 with two saves, 16 holds and a 3.16 ERA (24 ER/68.1 IP) in a career-high 55 appearances (four starts). Newcomb this season has made three relief appearances with a 7.20 ERA (4 ER/5.0 IP) for Atlanta, walking four and striking out four. Selected by the Angels in the first round (15th overall) of the 2014 Draft out of the University of Hartford, Newcomb was acquired by Atlanta November 12, 2015, with infielder Erick Aybar, right-handed pitcher Chris Ellis and cash for infielder Andrelton Simmons and catcher Jose Briceno. Chavez, 38, signed a minor league contract with Chicago last month. He posted no record with a 6.35 ERA (4 ER/5.2 IP) in three relief appearances for the Cubs this season.
