Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees acquired rookie reliever Scott Effross in a trade with the Chicago Cubs on Monday. Effross, a sidearming right-hander, is 1-4 with a 2.66 ERA and one save in 47 games this year. He made his big league debut last season, going 2-1 with a 3.68 ERA in 14 appearances with Chicago.
“He’s actually been someone that has been on our radar for several months,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “I’ve heard his name a lot. I know our guys have liked him a lot and obviously he’s had a really good season this year for the Cubs.”
New York also acquired right-hander Frankie Montas and reliever Lou Trivino from the Oakland Athletics for four prospects.
The rebuilding Cubs received minor league right-hander Hayden Wesneski in the deal. The 24-year-old Wesneski, a sixth-round selection in the 2019 amateur draft, is 6-7 with a 3.51 ERA in 19 starts for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Wesneski spent part of last season with Double-A Somerset, where his pitching coach was Daniel Moskos, now an assistant pitching coach with the Cubs.
The AL East-leading Yankees host the Seattle Mariners on Monday night. The trade deadline is Tuesday.
The addition of the 28-year-old Effross gives Boone another option in front of All-Star closer Clay Holmes.
Effross is particularly tough on right-handed batters, holding them to a .159 batting average this year.
“He’s really having one of the better seasons of any reliever in the league,” Boone said.
