Cubs Deal Soto 7/31/12
By: Scott Leber
Updated: July 31, 2012
CHICAGO - The Chicago Cubs today acquired right-handed pitcher Jake Brigham and a player to be named or cash consideration from the Texas Rangers for catcher Geovany Soto and a cash consideration.
Brigham, 24, is 5-5 with a 4.28 ERA (59 ER/124.0 IP) in 21 starts for Double-A Frisco this season, though he entered the 2012 campaign ranked as the seventh-best right-handed relief prospect in the Rangers organization by Baseball America after pitching exclusively in relief the second half of the 2011 campaign. He went 3-1 with a 3.60 ERA (16 ER/40.0 IP) in 21 relief outings last season. In 2012, Brigham was named to the mid-season Texas League All-Star team.
The 6-foot-3, 210-pound righthander was originally selected by the Rangers in the sixth round of the 2006 Draft out of Central Florida Christian Academy in Orlando, Florida. Brigham is 27-42 with one save and a 4.40 ERA (291 ER/595.2 IP) in 135 minor league appearances, including 101 starts.
Soto, 29, batted .199 (35-for-176) with six home runs and 14 RBI in 52 games for the Cubs this season. The 2008 National League Rookie of the Year concludes 12 seasons in the Cubs organization since being selected by the club in the 11th round of the 2001 Draft.
