Cubs trade Underwood for minor-league first baseman originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
The Cubs have traded pitcher Duane Underwood Jr. to the Pirates, after designating the right-hander for assignment last week. In return, the Cubs acquired minor-league first baseman Shendrik Apostel.
The Cubs DFA’d Underwood to make room on the 40-man roster for the signing of reliever Ryan Tepera. Underwood, 26, pitched in a career-high 17 games for the Cubs last season, posting a 5.66 ERA. The Cubs selected him in the second round of the 2012 MLB Draft.
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Apostel, 20, has played two Dominican Summer League seasons in the Pirates’ system. He played 68 games in that time, hitting .252 with 13 doubles and 11 home runs. Apostel signed with the Pirates out of Curacao in 2017.
