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Padres Free Agent Signs With NL Central Team

Originally posted on FanNation Inside The Padres
By Ricardo Sandoval | Last updated 2/26/24

San Diego Padres free agent first baseman and former All-Star Garrett Cooper is heading to the Midwest.

Herald Sports' Craig Mish shared on X that Cooper is signing with the Chicago Cubs. It is a minor league deal, and Cooper will receive an invitation to Chicago's big league spring training.

First Baseman Garrett Cooper is signing with the Chicago Cubs per source. NRI.
— Craig Mish (@CraigMish) February 26, 2024

The 33-year-old is coming off a season in which he split time between the Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres.

Cooper was acquired by the Padres at the trade deadline, and appeared in 41 games with San Diego. In 117 at-bats with the Friars, Cooper slashed .239/.323/.403 with a .725 OPS, four home runs, and 15 RBIs.

Cooper spent five-plus years in Miami and earned an All-Star nod in 2022. In his All-Star season, he recorded a career-high 108 hits while slashing .261/.337/.415 with a .752 OPS.

The Cooper acquisition didn't end up helping out San Diego, and he now heads to Chicago to continue his career.

Cooper was acquired along with minor league left-handed pitcher Sean Reynolds, while the Padres sent left-handed pitcher Ryan Weathers to Miami.

Weathers had a 7.62 ERA in three appearances (two starts) with Miami after the trade deadline. Reynolds had a 13.50 ERA in 17 appearances at the Padres' Triple-A level in 2023.

This article first appeared on FanNation Inside The Padres and was syndicated with permission.

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