Former Cubs Reliever Promoted to Athletics

Former Chicago Cubs reliever Sean Newcomb is back in the Major Leagues after the Oakland Athletics selected his contract on Wednesday.

Newcomb was just acquired by the Athletics in a trade with the San Francisco Giants and was with the Athletics’ Triple-A team in Las Vegas.

Newcomb has more than four years of service time in the Majors, having broken in with the Atlanta Braves in 2017. At one time he was considered one of that franchise’s top prospects and was originally acquired in a trade that included Andrelton Simmons.

Newcomb joined the Cubs in April of last season after the Braves designated him for assignment. The Braves traded Newcomb to the Cubs for right-handed pitcher Jesse Chavez and cash.

Newcomb dealt with a left ankle sprain in May and was up-and-down between the Cubs and Triple-A before he was designated for assignment on Sept. 17. He accepted a move to Iowa two days later but moved into free agency on Oct. 6.

With the Cubs he appeared in 17 games, with one start, going 1-2 with a 9.17 ERA. He threw 22.2 innings, striking out 24 and walking 15.

After Chicago, he ended up signing a minor-league deal with San Francisco and spent all of 2023 in their minor league system before the Giants dealt him to the Athletics on Monday for center fielder Trenton Brooks.

His best season in the Majors was in 2018 with Atlanta as a full-time starter, where he went 12-9 with a 3.90 ERA.

He has a career record of 26-24 with a 4.52 ERA in 161 appearances and 58 starts.