Cubs acquire RHP Barret Loux and player to be named from Texas for RHP Jake Brigham

CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today acquired right-handed pitcher Barret Loux and a player to be named from the Texas Rangers for right-handed pitcher Jake Brigham.  Brigham was a member of Chicago’s 40-man roster while Loux does not need to be added to Chicago’s 40-man roster.

Loux, 23, was named the 2012 Double-A Texas League Pitcher of the Year after going 14-1 with a 3.47 ERA (49 ER/127.0 IP) in 25 regular season starts with Frisco, helping his club advance to the Texas League Championship Series.  The righthander led the league in wins and finished sixth in ERA while striking out 100 batters and walking only 41 in 127.0 innings.  Loux began the season with 10 wins in his first 10 starts through the end of May and was the starting pitcher for the North squad in the Texas League All-Star Game.

The 6-foot-5, 215-pound Loux was originally selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks with the sixth overall pick of the 2010 Draft.  Loux was declared a free agent by Major League Baseball and signed with the Rangers on November 18, 2010.  In his first pro season in 2011, Loux went 8-5 with a 3.80 ERA (46 ER/109.0 IP) in 21 starts for Single-A Myrtle Beach.  He struck out 127 batters in 109.0 innings.  In two minor league seasons, Loux is 22-6 with a 3.62 ERA (95 ER/236.0 IP) in 46 professional starts.

Loux was selected by the Diamondbacks out of Texas A&M, where as a junior he earned First Team All-American honors by Baseball America and was a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award given annually to the nation’s top amateur player.

Brigham, 24, was acquired by the Cubs from the Rangers on July 31 for catcher Geovany Soto.  Brigham was assigned to Double-A Tennessee but was limited to only two starts, going 0-2 with a 19.64 ERA, due to a right elbow strain that ended his season.