Trade Central: Cubs Continue Bullpen Revamp, Add Smith — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

THE DEAL

The Cubs, who still have the majors’ best record at 63-41 despite a 12-14 record in July, have remade their bullpen in the last two weeks in anticipation of a deep playoff run.

They got a new closer in Aroldis Chapman, and added an old closer in veteran Joe Nathan, coming back from Tommy John surgery. They traded for lefty Mike Montgomery as a matchup reliever and now added a final piece, a righthanded specialist in low-slot veteran Joe Smith. They sent righthander Jesus Castillo to the Angels in exchange for Smith, who is in the final year of his contract that pays him $5.25 million this year. The Angels’ international scouting director, Carlos Gomez, was with the Diamondbacks when they signed Castillo, so the Angels had a comfort level with Castillo.

CUBS ACQUIRE
Joe Smith, rhp
Age: 32

A third-round pick of the Mets out of Wright State in 2006, Smith has been a consistent, durable reliever since establishing himself in 2010 with the Indians. Smith has pitched at least 63 innings every season since 2011, and while he has his highest ERA since 2010 this season at 3.82, he’s still effective against righthanded hitters, who have batted just .267/.341/.320. He has been leaned on heavily by Angels manager Mike Scioscia; former Scioscia associate Joe Maddon won’t have to expose him nearly as much with the deep Cubs pen.

Club (League)	Class	W	L	ERA	G	GS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO
Los Angeles (AL)	MLB	1	4	3.82	38	0	37.2	36	16	16	4	13	25

ANGELS ACQUIRE
Jesus Castillo, rhp
Age: 20

Castillo originally signed with the Diamondbacks in August 2011, and the Cubs acquired him in February 2013 along with righty Erick Leal for outfielder Tony Campana. Castillo didn’t reach the U.S. until 2014 and still hasn’t reached full-season ball, but he’s made strides in 2016 with short-season Eugene. He’s been noted in the past for having a solid feel for his curveball and changeup, and this year he’s added fastball velocity, more frequently reaching 91-92 mph range but still averaging 89-90 mph. He has solid command for his age but has a ways to go.