Cubs claim lefty Leathersich off waivers from Mets

In what has been a relatively quiet offseason thus far, the Chicago Cubs have claimed lefty Jack Leathersich from the NY Mets off of waivers. He was 0-1 with a 2.31 ERA with 17 relief appearances for NY last season, his first in the majors.

Top catching prospect Willson Contreras, for example, is likely to be among those added to the 40-man roster which stands at 31 after the signing of Acevedo.

Unlike his new teammate, Acevedo is yet to make his major league debut after spending the previous four seasons in the NY Yankees’ farm system. Acevedo was a combined 3-4 with 2.59 ERA in 41 games at Class-A Tampa, Double-A Trenton and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last season.

Acevedo earned Florida State League mid-season All-Star honors after posting a 1.40 ERA in 13 games for Tampa. Acevedo made the full-time transition to the mound shortly after signing with the Yankees and spent the bulk of two seasons with the Short-Season Staten Island Yankees in 2013 and 2014 honing his skills on the mound and improving the command of both his fastball and slider.

Acevedo’s addition to the 40-man roster comes a day before a deadline to add players who are eligible for the Rule 5 draft which takes place on December 10 at the winter meetings in Nashville.