The Chicago Cubs today acquired catcher Anthony Recker from the Oakland Athletics for catcher/first baseman Blake Lalli. Recker has been optioned to Triple-A Iowa. To make room for Recker on the 40-man roster, left-handed pitcher Scott Maine has been designated for assignment.
Recker, who turns 29 on Wednesday, was originally selected by Oakland in the 18th round of the 2005 Draft and made his major league debut for the club last August. Recker was a member of Oakland’s 2012 Opening Day roster but was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento on May 27, where he was hitting .265 (53-for-200) with seven doubles, nine home runs, 29 RBI, a .358 on-base percentage and a .793 OPS before being designated for assignment on August 20. In parts of two major league seasons, Recker has batted .146 (7-for-48) in 18 games.
A right-handed batter and thrower, Recker entered the year having reached double figures in home runs in each of his last six minor league seasons and, into the 2012 campaign, had thrown out 221-of-665 attempted base stealers in his minor league career, a 33.2 percent success rate. He was named a mid-season All-Star in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2011 (also a post-season Pacific Coast League All-Star in 2011).
Recker batted .287 (99-for-345) with 61 runs scored, 24 doubles, 16 home runs, 48 RBI and a .388 on-base percentage in 99 games for Sacramento in 2011. In eight minor league seasons, Recker is a career .273 hitter (697-for-2,557) with 155 doubles, 98 home runs and 382 RBI in 719 games. The six-foot-two, 240-pound Recker is a native of Allentown, Penn. and resides in Catasauqua, Penn.
Lalli, 29, made his big league debut with the Cubs earlier this season and batted .133 (2-for-15) with two RBI in six games. He batted .259 (78-for-301) with seven home runs and 40 RBI in 93 games with Triple-A Iowa. Lalli originally signed with the Cubs as a non-drafted free agent on May 22, 2006.
Maine, 27, has spent part of the last three seasons in the big leagues with the Cubs, going 1-1 with a 4.87 ERA (22 ER/40.2 IP) in 41 career relief appearances. He went 1-1 with a 4.79 ERA (11 ER/20.2 IP) in 21 outings with the Cubs this season and went 4-2 with a 2.88 ERA (11 ER/34.1 IP) in 28 relief outings with Triple-A Iowa.