LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — The Chicago Cubs obtained the right-handed outfield bat they needed, acquiring Justin Ruggiano from the Miami Marlins for lefty swinging Brian Bogusevic.
The deal was announced at baseball’s winter meetings Thursday.
Ruggiano, who turns 32 in April, has played parts of five big league seasons with Tampa Bay (2007-08, 2011) and Miami (2012-13). He hit a career-high 18 homers in 472 at-bats for Miami last year. He’s a .251 hitter for his career. In 317 games, he has 37 homers and 109 RBIs.
The Cubs had left-handers Nate Schierholtz and Ryan Sweeney in the outfield, making Bogusevic available for trades.
Bogusevic, who turns 30 in February, hit .273 with six homers and 16 RBI in 47 games last year. In 299 games over four years — the first three in Houston — Bogusevic has 17 homers and 62 RBIs with a .273 average.
He could help fill the hole created by lefty Logan Morrison, who was dealt to Seattle on Wednesday for reliever relief pitcher Carter Capps.
