The Cubs and Rays officially announced the eight-player trade that sent five minor leaguers to the Tampa Bay Rays for Matt Garza, Fernando Perez and Zachary Rosscup, a left-handed minor league pitcher that was the Rays 28th round pick in the 2009 draft.
The Cubs paid a big price for Matt Garza by dealing Chris Archer, Hak-Ju Lee, Robinson Chirinos, Brandon Guyer and Sam Fuld for Garza, Perez and a minor league lefty.
Jim Hendry told the media that the Cubs “are not giving away the farm to try and win in one year. That couldn’t be farther from the truth with a guy like Matt Garza.” Matt Garza said he is happy about being traded to the Cubs and is excited about being a Cub … and trying “to get this thing turned around in a good direction.”
Hendry said, “It isn’t often you can acquire a 27-year-old-top-of-the-rotation kind of guy that has three years left before he becomes a free agent in any kind of traded. Obviously with that comes trading some significant young talent back.”
Matt Garza posted a 15-10 record in 2010 with a 3.91 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP in 33 games, 32 starts. Garza topped 30 starts for the third year in a row and surpassed the 200-inning mark for the second time in two seasons.
Garza owns a 42-44 career record in the big leagues with a 3.97 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP in 121 games, 118 starts. Garza tossed the first no-hitter in Rays history last season and has six career complete games.
Matt Garza’s Page on Baseball-Reference
After breaking on the scene in the 2008 post-season, Fernando Perez dealt with injuries in 2009 and 2010, but says he’s fully healthy and looking forward to his opportunity with the Cubs.
Perez was the Rays seventh round pick in the 2004 draft and owns a .234/.301/.351/.652 line in 41 career big league games with two doubles and three home runs. Perez was the Rays’ 15th best prospect according to Baseball America prior to the 2009 season.
Fernando Perez’s Page on Baseball-Reference
Zach Rosscup, a 22-year old southpaw, was the Rays 28th round pick in the 2009 draft. Rosscup posted a 3-1 record in two stops last season with a 2.64 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP. Rosscup started eight of the 12 games he appeared in between rookie ball and Low Class-A Hudson Valley.
Rosscup struck out 41 and walked only nine in 44 1/3 innings.
Zach Rosscup’s Page on Baseball-Reference
With the subtractions of Chris Archer, Robinson Chirinos, Sam Fuld and Brandon Guyer and the additions of Matt Garza and Fernando Perez, the Cubs 40-man roster now stands at 38 players.