The Cubs and White Sox are doing their best to ensure that Chicago is Ian Clarkin's kind of town. On Wednesday, it was the Cubs' turn to acquire the left-hander in this offseason tug-of-war.
For the second time this winter, the North Siders claimed Clarkin off waivers from the South Siders, adding the lefty to the Spring Training mix. The White Sox had claimed Clarkin off waivers from the Cubs on Nov. 26, but designated him for assignment on Jan. 8 after signing reliever Kelvin Herrera.
Clarkin -- originally claimed off waivers by the Cubs on Nov. 20 -- brings the team's 40-man roster to 39 players. The lefty landed with the White Sox in July 2017 as part of the blockbuster, seven-player swap that sent Player Page for David Robertson, Todd Frazier and Tommy Kahnle to the Yankees.
In 81 Minor League games (66 starts), the 23-year-old Clarkin has posted a 3.55 ERA with 6.8 strikeouts per nine innings. The lefty was selected with the 33rd overall pick (one slot after Yankees star Aaron Judge) in the first round of the 2013 MLB Draft.
Last season, Clarkin turned in a 4.76 ERA in 25 appearances (12 starts) between three White Sox affiliates, topping out at Double-A Birmingham. In 85 innings, the left-hander had 50 strikeouts compared to 37 walks. Clarkin had a 6.29 ERA in his first 48 2/3 innings, but then missed time due to a groin issue. Following his return in July, the lefty had a 2.72 ERA in 36 1/3 innings over the remainder of his season.
Cubs pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training on Feb. 12 and are scheduled to hold their first official workout on Feb. 13 at the team's complex in Mesa, Ariz.