MLB: Cubs obtain infielder Cardenas, designate DeWitt for assignment

[cigaretteman]

The Cubs' new regime continued its housecleaning Monday when it said goodbye to infielder Blake DeWitt and claimed infielder Adrian Cardenas off waivers from the Athletics.

DeWitt, a former first-round pick of the Dodgers, was the highlighted return in former general manager Jim Hendry's 2010 trade that sent Ted Lilly and Ryan Theriot to LA. But he never could crack the Cubs' lineup, hitting .265 in 121 games last season.


He was to make $1.1 million this season, which could be picked up by another team if the Cubs trade him within five days. If not, he will be released.

Meanwhile, the Theo Epstein group brought in another fresh face in its rebuilding of the fifth-place Cubs, who finished 25 games behind the Brewers.

Cardenas, 24, split time at three infield positions and left field while hitting .314 with 28 doubles and a .374 on-base percentage for Triple-A Sacramento last season. He played mostly second base in four previous minor league seasons.

He is a candidate to be an extra infielder for the Cubs this season.

The dismantling of the 2007-2008 National League Central champions began right after Epstein and Jed Hoyer were named as president and general manager this winter.

They have traded or non-tendered starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano, third baseman Aramis Ramirez, first baseman Carlos Pena, reliever Sean Marshall and former first-round picks Andrew Cashner and Tyler Colvin. Also on the trading block is pitcher Matt Garza, whom Hendry obtained a year ago at a very high cost of prospects.

Chicago Cubs obtain infielder Adrian Cardenas, release Blake DeWitt - chicagotribune.com

 

[Clones21]

DeWitt had problems in Chicago.

 

[CYdTracked]

eh, nothing earth shattering. I pretty much have already accepted the Cubs are going to suck this year while they clean house and try to rebuild by stocking up young talent. If they move Soriano or Byrd or sign Cespedes or Solar I will take note but right now hard to get too excited about the new additions. If even 2 or 3 of them pan out to be good every day players then the moves they made can be called a sucess after shedding some dead weight. At least this year there will be some depth at starting pitching if there are injuries although there are a lot of question marks around how good and consistent some of these young guys they acquired like Travis Wood and Volstad will be. I still would not be shocked to see Garza traded by the summer deadline. Sounds like Theo and Hoyer are going to stick with their high asking price and someone in contention that is lacking pitching may just eventually give that up at the deadline. That's the only way I see Garza traded by getting a boatload of talent back.

 

[cyhiphopp]

Sucking this year with the potential to not suck in the future is better than sucking with the same players as last year and no chance to get better in the future.

 

[josh4isu]

not a huge move. blake dewitt has never been as good as advertised. Im excited for the future but they are going to be baaaaaaaad this year.