Chicago Cubs trade for reliever Phelps from Blue Jays, place Strop on IL

One day before Major League Baseball's trading deadline, the Chicago Cubs shook up their beleaguered bullpen.

The Cubs acquired right-handed reliever David Phelps and cash considerations from the Toronto Blue Jays for minor-league right-hander Thomas Hatch. Phelps is expected to join the Cubs on Wednesday in St. Louis.

The club also placed setup man Pedro Strop on the injured list and recalled pitcher Duane Underwood from Class AAA Iowa.

Strop was put on the IL with left-neck tightness. He had been bothered by hamstring issues from late last season and into this year.

The velocity on his fastball has been down by several miles per hour.

"Sunday I was playing catch and my neck was feeling weird," Strop told reporters in St. Louis. "It was really tight. I woke up today, and it wasn't feeling that good, either."

Phelps, 32, is 0-0 in 17 games with Toronto with a 3.63 ERA and a WHIP of 1.21. He came up with the New York Yankees in 2012 and also has pitched for Miami and Seattle. For his career, he is 30-33 with a 3.88 ERA, a WHIP of 1.32 and 5 saves. He missed all of last year after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

"Very aggressive sort," Cubs manager Joe Maddon told reporters. "Very physical, aggressive, let's-go kind of guy. It's going to be wonderful to work with him (Wednesday)."

Hatch was a third-round draft choice of the Cubs in 2016.

Underwood, 25, made his major league debut with the Cubs last season, starting once. He was a second-round draft choice in 2012. At Iowa this year, he is 2-5 with a 5.23 ERA with a WHIP of 1.53 in 28 games, 10 starts.

The Cubs also transferred reliever Xavier Cedeno from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL.