On Tuesday, the Chicago Cubs executed a little trade in which they sent pitcher Michael Rucker to the Philadelphia Phillies in return for cash. Rucker was previously designated for assignment by Chicago following the one-year contract signing of Hector Neris.
Before being chosen by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2019 Rule 5 Draft, Rucker was selected by the Cubs in the 11th round of the 2016 draft. He was sent back to the Cubs in March 2020 because he never played for the Orioles.
Rucker earned steady work in the bullpen following his Cubs debut in 2021. In each of the previous three seasons, the right-hander appeared in at least twenty games. With a 3.95 ERA in 2022, he had his finest season to date.
Rucker was the odd man out after Neris was signed by the Cubs. Rucker’s decision to be designated for development helped provide place on the 40-man roster for the Cubs, who needed some potent late-inning relievers to complement their rising closer, Adbert Alzolay.
Rucker, who turns 30 this season, will look to establish a home in the Phillies bullpen, which placed just outside of the top 10 in ERA the previous year.
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