Cubs claim Ervin off waivers from Mariners

Posted December 22, 2020 12:00 am

Scot Gregor

In desperate need of outfield help after non-tendering Kyle Schwarber and Albert Almora Jr., the Cubs on Tuesday claimed Phillip Ervin off waivers from the Mariners.

The move increases their 40-man roster to 37.

The 28-year-old Ervin is a career .247/.322/.406 hitter with 17 home runs and 68 RBI over 237 games with Seattle and Cincinnati.

The 5-foot-10, 210-pounder was the Reds' first-round draft pick (No. 27 overall) in 2013.

Ervin slashed .149/.292/.189 with 4 RBI in 37 combined games with the Mariners and Reds last season. His best year came in 2019, when the right-hander hit .271/.331/.466 with 7 homers, 7 triples and 23 RBI in 94 games with Cincinnati.

Capable of playing all three outfield spots, Ervin has logged most of his innings in left field.

The Cubs also added infield depth, signing third baseman Matt Duffy to a minor league contract.

The 29-year-old Duffy slashed .282/.338/.380 with 22 home runs and 169 RBI over five years with the Giants and Rays.

Duffy did not play last season.

Article Comments

Article Categories
Baseball Chicago Cubs MLB Pro Sports Sports Sports Leagues Sports Types

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.