Andrew Chafin, Chicago Cubs (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
On Monday, the Chicago Cubs traded Andrew Chafin to the Oakland Athletics for two prospects. Unfortunately, the Cubs failed to notify “The Sheriff” before he found out the way most of us did: on a TV ticker.
Former Chicago Cubs pitcher Andrew Chafin was sitting in the bullpen at Wrigley Field last night when his name popped up on a TV ticker with the news that he’d been traded.
According to The San Francisco Chronicle beat writer Matt Kawahara, Chafin initially didn’t know where he was headed. Upon being told he would soon be suiting up for the Oakland A’s, Chafin’s initial thought was “I don’t know sh** about the AL West.”
Chafin has pitched in the National League his whole career thus far, first with the Arizona Diamondbacks before being traded to the Cubs in 2020.
Cubs fail to notify Chafin of trade before the news broke on TV
Chafin appeared in a total of 47 games for the Cubs throughout 2020 and 2021. He didn’t have the lengthiest stint in Chicago by any means, but one would have hoped team staff could’ve found a way to give him the news before he found out via the media. Loyalty in pro sports is not what many think it is – this is a business, after all. But still, that’s about as impersonal as it gets.
Chafin recently pitched a combined no-hitter with the Cubs on June 24, 2021. Prior to his most recent outing, the lefty had gone 26 straight appearances without allowing a run. Chafin will bring his .209 ERA to an A’s team in need of another reliable arm in set-up situations. Hopefully, they’ll be more upfront with him than the Cubs were.