The Cubs announced Wednesday the team traded recently DFA’d Mike Kickham to the Seattle Mariners for minor league right hander Lars Huijer. To make room on the 40-man roster for Kickham, the Mariners designated LHP Anthony Fernandez for assignment.
RHP Lars Huijer was not on the Mariners reserve roster and will not take a spot on the Cubs 40-man roster.
Lars Huijer (6-foot-4, 203 pounds) turned 21 in September and is from the Netherlands. Huijer made it to High-A High Desert last year and was 2-4 with a 6.54 ERA and 1.83 WHIP in 12 starts. Huijer allowed 69 hits with 32 strikeouts and 27 walks in 52 1/3 innings.
In two stops in the Mariners system last year, Huijer was a combined 6-9 with a 5.08 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in 124 innings (76 strikeouts, 61 walks, 128 hits).
MLB.com ranked Lars Huijer as the 17th best prospect in the Mariners system and Baseball America ranked him as the 28th best prospect in Seattle’s organization prior to last season.
Huijer throws three pitches that have a chance to be a tick above average according to Baseball America. Huijer throws his fastball in the 85-90 mph range and does a good job keeping the ball down in the zone. Huijer features a changeup (upper-70s) with good feel and deception and a slow curveball (mid-70s).
Baseball America projected him as a backend starter in the big leagues with potential to exceed his projections. MLB.com thinks Huijer could be a mid-rotation starter if everything falls into place.
The Cubs designated LHP Mike Kickham for assignment on Jan. 9 to make room on the 40-man roster for OF Chris Denorfia. The Cubs claimed Kickham off waivers from the Giants on Dec. 23.