Andrew Chafin traded from D-backs to Cubs

Jon Heyman was the first to report that left-handed reliever Andrew Chafin has been dealt from the Diamonbacks to the Chicago Cubs. The southpaw is currently on the injured list with a finger issue, but it’s not considered serious. Chafin is one of the longest-tenured Diamondbacks, having made his debut for the team back in August 2014. Since then, he has appeared 337 times for Arizona, which puts him behind only Brad Ziegler (377) in games played by a pitcher as a D-back. He posted a 3.68 ERA (118 ERA+) over his seven seasons with Arizona, though we notorious for his first batter struggles, even if the career numbers don’t necessarily bear that out.

We’re still waiting to hear formal details of the return, but with Chafin a free-agent at the end of the season, it’s probably going to be a low-level prospect. I’m not even sure about the procedural niceties of trading a player that is currently on the injured list; though I guess with the deadline being today, it was a case of “now or never”. The Cubs could certainly use a left-handed relief option. Kyle Ryan has their lowest ERA this year in that category at 5.91, so Chafin should represent an upgrade.