CHICAGO, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- It's the perfect time of year for wheeling, dealing, signing, trading and negotiating, in several sports.
While NFL free agency sneaks closer and NBA teams ready for playoff runs, MLB players are also sneakily switching shirts.
On Thursday, the Chicago Cubs traded outfielder Chris Coghlan to the Oakland Athletics for pitcher Aaron Brooks.
Coghlan was the Rookie of the Year in 2009. The 30-year-old hit .250, with 16 home runs and 41 RBI, in 503 plate appearances last season.
Cubs president Theo Epstein told the Chicago Tribune Thursday that Coghlan's trade was "necessary to make room for the free-agent signing of Dexter Fowler."
Brooks, 23, had a 3-4 record last season for the Kansas City Royals and Athletics. He had an ERA of more than six at both stops, allowing 41 earned runs in only 13 games.
