NASHVILLE, Tenn. The Cubs acquired pitcher Tim Lahey a converted catcher in exchange for cash shortly after the right-hander was claimed by the Tampa Bay Rays in the Rule 5 draft this morning at the winter meetings.
Picking first in the draft, the Rays selected Lahey, 25, from the Minnesota Twins. Lahey, drafted by the Twins as a catcher in the 20th round of the 2004 draft, was converted to a pitcher in 2005. He went 8-4 with 13 saves in 16 chances and a 3.45 ERA for Class AA New Britain last season. Lahey, who is 6-4 and 250 pounds, is 15-6 with a 3.91 ERA and 38 saves in 123 minor-league relief appearances. He has walked 70 and fanned 146.
