Cubs Add Right-Handed Pitcher To Bullpen Mix On Final Day Of The Winter Meetings

Hey, the Cubs did something at the Winter Meetings.

It’s not a big move, not flashy, there’s no way you’ve heard of this pitcher before unless you’re focused on the Padres’ minor leagues, but it follows a trend for the Cubs this offseason. The Cubs need to improve their bullpen and instead of dipping into the free agent market they’re targeting low-cost guys that have some potential and have had some degree of success in the past.

Before the final day of the Winter Meetings in San Diego the Cubs had already acquired Jharel Cotton, Dan Winkler and CD Pelham. During the Rule 5 Draft Thursday morning the Cubs selected 6-foot-8 right-hander Trevor Megill from the Padres.

They’re hoping this group of pitchers can continue to yield positive results similar to Kyle Ryan, Rowan Wick and Brad Wieck. The Cubs also grabbed Wick and Wieck from the Padres last season.

Megill, 26, is the first player the Cubs have taken in the Rule 5 Draft since 2014. The reliever has yet to make his MLB debut, spending the last five years in San Diego’s farm system. Per MLB rules, Megill has to stay on the Cubs’ big league roster all season and if he’s not then they’ll have to return the pitcher back to the Padres.

The Cubs actually tried to trade for Megill back in November.

There’s a connection between Megill and the Cubs even before that as he was first taken in the third round of the 2014 draft by the Cardinals. New Cubs scouting director Dan Kantrovitz was in charge of the draft for St. Louis when Megill was first picked, but Megill didn’t sign, stayed in college and was then drafted by the Padres the following year.

In 2019, Megill had a 3.86 ERA in 60.2 innings across three minor league levels. He struck out 87 and walked 22, including 71 strikeouts in 50.1 innings at Triple-A. He has a 3.38 ERA over five minor league season.

Megill, along with three or four other pitchers, is expected to compete for the final bullpen spot in spring training.

Meanwhile, the Cubs lost a couple minor leaguers during the Rule 5 Draft, as the Phillies selected infielder Vimael Machin (later traded to A’s) and the Orioles scooped up pitcher Michael Rucker.