Allen

Webster

Webster is part of a large group of minor league players released by the club. The 30-year-old posted a 4.91 ERA over 12 appearances with the Cubs last season.

The 30-year-old right-hander appeared in 12 games with the Cubs during the 2019 season, registering a 4.91 ERA, 1.73 WHIP and 9/5 K/BB ratio over 11 innings. He’ll add minor league bullpen depth for the Nationals.

Webster is now off the 40-man roster. He posted a 4.91 ERA over 12 relief appearances for the Cubs this season.

The move clears a spot on the 40-man roster for Craig Kimbrel. Webster has missed nearly a month with radial nerve inflammation and now can’t be activated until after the All-Star break.

He has made 12 relief appearances for the Cubs this year with a 4.91 ERA and one save. The former Red Sox and Diamondbacks hurler has a 6.03 ERA in 134 1/3 career innings over the past seven years.

The Cubs finally broke through and scored three runs in the top half of the 15th inning, but the Diamondbacks weren’t going to go quietly. They battled back to score two off of Kyle Ryan in the bottom half of the inning, prompting Cubs’ manager Joe Maddon to deploy Webster, the ninth pitcher that he used in the ballgame. The 29-year-old hurler needed just two pitches, getting Nick Ahmed to fly out to end the ballgame. Despite the success, he isn’t going to work his way into the closer’s role any time soon.

He’ll take the place of Carl Edwards Jr. in the Cubs’ bullpen after the right-hander was optioned to Triple-A on Saturday. Webster, 29, appeared in three games for the Cubs late in 2018, posting a 6.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 3/1 K/BB ratio across three innings. He’ll be used in middle relief and shouldn’t have any fantasy value.

Webster had been non-tendered at the end of November, but he has opted to remain with the Cubs’ organization. The 28-year-old hurler resurfaced in the big leagues with the Cubs in 2018, allowing two runs and posting a 1.00 WHIP and 3/1 K/BB ratio in his three innings of work.

Webster, 28, returned to the big leagues in 2018, registering a 6.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 3/1 K/BB ratio in three innings with the Cubs in September. He’ll probably have to settle for a minor league contract elsewhere this winter.

To make room on the 40-man roster, the Cubs transferred Brandon Morrow to the 60-day disabled list. Webster hasn’t pitched in the majors since since 2015, when he had a 5.81 ERA in 13 starts with the Diamondbacks. He pitched in 17 games in the Cubs’ minor league system in 2018 -- nine of them appearances at the rookie level -- posting a 4.24 ERA with a 24/3 K/BB ratio. He’ll likely be used in low-leverage spots.