11/20 Cubs deal Brigham back to Texas
Jake Brigham is headed back to Texas. The Cubs acquired right-handed pitcher Barret Loux and a player to be named from the Rangers on Tuesday for Brigham, a right-handed pitcher, who was acquired in July from Texas for catcher Geovany Soto. Brigham had been on the Cubs’ 40-man roster. Loux does not need to be added to the 40-man.
Loux, 23, was named the 2012 Double-A Texas League Pitcher of the Year after going 14-1 with a 3.47 ERA in 25 regular season starts with Frisco. He helped the team reach the Texas League Championship Series, and led the league in wins and finished sixth in ERA while striking out 100 batters and walking 41 over 127 innings.
Originally selected by the Diamondbacks sixth overall in the 2010 Draft out of Texas A&M, Loux was declared a free agent by Major League Baseball and signed with the Rangers on Nov. 18, 2010. He was a finalist for the Golden Spikes award, presented annually to the nation’s top amateur player. He already has a Cubs connection as Loux and Brooks Raley were teammates at Texas A&M.
Brigham, 24, was assigned to Double-A Tennessee after he was acquired but was limited to two starts, going 0-2 with a 19.64 ERA because of right elbow strain that ended his season. The Cubs and Rangers had a verbal agreement to revisit the deal if Brigham was injured.
– Carrie Muskat
mlblogsmuskat1
Strange move. Brigham is definitely the better prospect, he works comfortably with a mid 90′s fast ball ( touch’s 97mph ) and working curve, comand has been the issue with J Brigham. But he has electric stuff.
Loux is a pitcher with back of the rotation profile and a sore shoulder that’s just waiting to fall off. He was great in AA this past season, but he has a fairly high floor and low ceiling. If everything falls right for him, you’re looking at a #4 starter or long bp guy with low 90′s heat who moves the ball in and out and changes speeds well. Hitting his spots and keeping hitters off balance is his game.
Brigam was almost surely going to be a back-of-the-rotation guy also
These players were acquired in exchange for Soto… what does that tell everybody?