Cubs roster move: Ian Clarkin heads back to the White Sox on waivers

Last Tuesday, the Cubs claimed lefthanded reliever Ian Clarkin on waivers from the White Sox.

Monday, per a press release from the White Sox, he’s returning there on a waiver claim. It appears the Cubs likely tried to sneak him through waivers and the Sox decided they wanted him back

Clarkin had been acquired by the Sox from the Yankees on July 18, 2017 with right-hander Tyler Clippard and outfielders Blake Rutherford and Tito Polo in exchange for third baseman Todd Frazier and right-handers Tommy Kahnle and David Robertson.

The 23-year-old, who was originally drafted by the Yankees in the first round in 2013 (33rd overall), combined to go 4-5 with a 4.76 ERA (45 earned runs in 85 innings) over 25 games (12 starts) with Advanced-A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham in 2018.

See you in a Cubs/White Sox spring training game next March, Ian.

With this move, the Cubs’ 40-man roster stands at 38.