Tim

Lahey

Baseball America says he’s being traded to the Cubs. Lahey, who was drafted as a catcher out of Princeton in 2004 and turned into a reliever the next year, had a 3.65 ERA and a 59/35 K/BB ratio in 81 1/3 innings last season, all but three of them coming in Double-A. There’s going to be little reason for the Cubs to keep him in their pen.

As suspected at the time, the Cubs had this arranged prior to the Rule 5 draft. Lahey, who was taken out of the Twins’ system with the first pick today, will try to stick as a middle reliever.

Lahey was with the Twins last year before he was picked by the Phillies in December’s Rule 5 draft. The Twins paid a $25,000 waiver fee on Friday to get him back. He will report to extended spring training in Fort Myers, Florida.

Seanez, who was released by the Dodgers last week, will reportedly be activated to the Phillies’ major league roster prior to Wednesday’s game. Seanez was knocked around this spring, and he’ll struggle to put up numbers similar to his 3.79 ERA from last season, but he should provide cheap depth to a shaky Philadelphia pen. To clear space, Rule 5 pick Tim Lahey could be sent back to the Twins.

Lahey would be a weak choice for the final spot in the Philadelphia pen. The first overall pick in the Rule 5 draft after spending most of last year in Double-A, he had a 6.55 ERA and a 7/8 K/BB ratio in 11 innings for the Cubs this spring. The Twins still figure to get him back at some point.

Lahey’s time with the Phillies came to a quick end as a result of the Rudy Seanez acquisition. The Rule-5 pick never did get to make an appearance for the team. Unless he’s again picked up on waivers, the Twins will get him back.

Lidge, who was recovering from knee surgery, will be available to close in Saturday’s game if needed. Tim Lahey will likely be let go to make room.