Cubs claim Phillip Ervin on waivers from Mariners

As an offseason of minor Cubs moves continues, the ballclub claimed outfielder Phillip Ervin on waivers from the Mariners Tuesday afternoon.

Ervin hit just .149/.292/.189 in limited duty split between the Reds and Mariners in 2020 (89 plate appearances), but prior to that had three solid years as a fourth outfielder in Cincinnati, hitting .262/.326/.438 from 2017-19 (134-for-512) with 17 home runs and 14 stolen bases. He hits lefties pretty well (.277/.352/.459, with seven home runs in 220 at-bats).

Ervin was the Reds’ first-round pick (27th overall) in 2013 from Samford University in Alabama. He’s 28 and has played all three outfield positions.

He’ll have an opportunity to win an outfield roster spot in Spring Training. And now, the Cubs have three outfielders on the 40-man roster. Ervin is not arbitration-eligible until 2022, so there’s that.

The Cubs’ 40-man roster now stands at 37 players.