MLB's lockout has brought a transactions freeze to baseball — excluding movement on the minor league side.
MLB held its minor league portion of the Rule 5 Draft Wednesday, and the Cubs landed lefty Conner Menez from the Giants.
Teams can't make trades or sign free agents to big-league deals during the lockout, but they can add players on minor-league deals because they're not part of the 40-man roster.
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Menez, 26, was a starter in the minors and adds depth as a multi-inning pitcher. He made eight big-league appearances with the Giants in 2021 (one start), going two innings six times while finishing with a 3.86 ERA and 15 strikeouts (three walks) in 14 innings.
He's made 23 big-league appearances (four starts) with San Francisco since 2019 and holds a career 4.04 ERA in the majors.
The Mets added Cubs minor league reliever Carlos Ocampo, who spent 2021 with low-A Myrtle Beach.
