The Cubs’ Plan for Steele’s Return: Moving to Triple-A Level Next Week, Trading Cooper for Cash Considerations
The Cubs have a plan in place for pitcher Justin Steele’s return, with his next step being moving to the Triple-A level next week. After facing live hitters for three innings at the team’s complex in Arizona on Friday, Steele will likely continue his rehab in Iowa on Wednesday. The team is working to build Steele back up to rejoin the big-league rotation, but has not yet announced if he will make one or multiple rehab outings with a minor league affiliate.
In other news, the Cubs traded veteran Garrett Cooper to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for cash considerations. The decision to trade Cooper was made after the Cubs added Matt Mervis to the big-league roster and felt they had enough right-handed hitters with Patrick Wisdom back from injury. They were in search of a left-handed bat to balance out the roster, which they found in Mervis.
