The Cleveland Guardians made multiple roster moves on Tuesday, to protect players from being picked in the upcoming Rule 5 Draft.
They added four prospects to the 40-man roster (Franco Aleman, Nic Enright, Petey Halpin and Doug Nikhazy) and designated Peter Strzelecki, Connor Gillispie and George Valera for assignment.
On Wednesday, and after adding relievers Aleman and Enright to the 40-man roster, they traded from their deep pool of relievers: Eli Morgan will now play for the Chicago Cubs.
“Can confirm @JeffPassan report that Cubs have acquired RH reliever Eli Morgan from Cleveland. Morgan isn’t a power arm, but a solid middle relief arm. Well-rounded arsenal, strong change. Won’t wow you, but gets the job done and can do multi-inning stints. A-ball player is return,” Sahadev Sharma, who covers the Cubs for The Athletic, posted on X.
Can confirm @JeffPassan report that Cubs have acquired RH reliever Eli Morgan from Cleveland. Morgan isn't a power arm, but a solid middle relief arm. Well-rounded arsenal, strong change. Won't wow you, but gets the job done and can do multi-inning stints. A-ball player is return
— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) November 20, 2024
Morgan isn’t really a top arm in the Guardians bullpen: he rarely gets the seventh or eighth inning.
That has more to do with the team’s incredibly talented and deep bullpen than his own limitations, though, as he posted a 1.93 ERA in 42 frames last year.
He doesn’t have an explosive fastball or a filthy cutter, but Morgan is a solid veteran with a well-rounded repertoire who can help stabilize the Cubs’ bullpen.
He is a career 3.97-ERA pitcher and is 28 years old.
The Guardians are getting a young prospect in return.
With the move, they are probably looking for a bit more upside on that bullpen, which means that, in addition to Andrew Walters getting an expanded role in 2025’s team, the organization could include Aleman or Enright in their plans.
The identity of the prospect the Guardians got in return for Morgan wasn’t initially revealed upon completion of the trade.
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