From the Wire … Cubs Trade Brent Lillibridge to Yankees for PTBNL or Cash
The Cubs announced on Friday afternoon that they traded Brent Lillibridge to the New York Yankees for either a player to be named later or cash. Lillibridge was playing for the Iowa Cubs when the deal was made.
This is the second time this season the Cubs have dealt a minor league utility man that began the season with the big league club to the Yankees. The Cubs sent Alberto Gonzalez to New York on May 9. The Yankees added Gonzalez to their 40-man roster on Friday and called him up to take the spot of Reid Brignac, who was DFA’d on Friday.
The Cubs signed Brent Lillibridge to a minor league contract last off-season that included a non-roster invite to Spring Training. Lillibridge earned a spot on the Opening Day roster after hitting .313/.327/.563 in 19 games in Arizona with five doubles, two triples, one home run and a .889 OPS. Lillibridge was expected to be a super-sub off Dale Sveum’s bench but when Darwin Barney went down on the final day of the exhibition season, Lillibridge was forced into a starter’s role and could not produce either at the plate or in the field.
Lillibridge managed just one hit in 24 at bats over nine games (.042/.042/.042) before being designated for assignment and sent down to Iowa. In 48 games with the I-Cubs, Lillibridge hit .281/.331/.425/.756 with eight doubles and five home runs.