Cubs trade Chris Coghlan to Athletics for pitcher Aaron Brooks

MESA, Ariz. – The Cubs on Wednesday morning traded fourth outfielder Chris Coghlan to the Oakland Athletics for young right-hander Aaron Brooks.

Coghlan, the 2009 National League Rookie of the Year for the Marlins, hit .265 with 25 home runs and a .346 on-base percentage in 273 games for the Cubs over the past two seasons.

It was not immediately clear if the trade was a precursor to another move. General manager Jed Hoyer said last week the Cubs were monitoring the slow-moving free agent market for potential upgrades.

Trading Coghlan $4.8 million off the payroll.

Brooks, 25, has pitched in parts of the last two seasons for the Royals and A’s, going 3-5 with an 8.38 ERA in 15 big-league appearances, including 10 starts.

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Brooks was a ninth-round draft pick of the Royals in 2011.