Today the Cubs claimed infielder Adrian Cardenas from the Oakland Athletics and designated utility man Blake DeWitt for assignment. Cardenas will take Blake DeWitt’s spot on the 40-man roster. The Oakland Athletics designated Cardenas for assignment on January 26th.
Cardenas who has never played in the majors, is still only 24 years old. In 2011, the left-handed hitter posted a .314/.274/.418 in 545 plate appearances. He has 5 home runs, 51 runs driven in, 47 walks and struck out 56 times. Cardenas was drafted in 2006 by the Philadelphia Phillies and traded to the Oakland Athletics in 2008 (Joe Blanton trade).
In the corrsponding move, the Cubs DFA Blake DeWitt. The Cubs acquired DeWitt from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Ryan Theriot/Ted Lilly trade (2010). In a part-time role during the 2011 season, DeWitt hit .265 with 5 home runs, 26 runs drive in, 12 walks and struck out 31 times.
I have to say that I love the move. I think Cardenas will be a good utility player and make the club out of spring training. I bet he’ll put up better numbers than Blake DeWitt. I think DeWitt will be claimed and he will not be in the Cubs organization any longer.
The first to bring up the Cubs interest of Cardenas was Hot Stove Cubbies. Gotta give him credit.
Also, a corresponding move for the signing of Concepcion has not been announced. It should be pretty soon. We don’t know is he passed his physical yet, but that should be no problem.
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