Cubs add pitcher, lose two players via waivers

CHICAGO -- The Cubs shuffled the roster Tuesday, claiming left-handed pitcher Mike Kickham off waivers from the Giants and losing two players whom they had claimed last Friday.

Catcher Ryan Lavarnway, whom the Cubs claimed off waivers from the Dodgers, was claimed Tuesday by the Orioles, while outfielder Shane Peterson, whom the Cubs claimed off waivers from the Athletics, is now headed to the Brewers.

The moves create an opening on the Cubs' 40-man roster, which could possibly be filled by catcher David Ross, whose signing was pending a physical.

Kickham, 26, was waived by the Giants on Tuesday following their signing of Jake Peavy. Kickham was 8-8 with a 4.43 ERA in 27 starts last season for San Francisco's Triple-A affiliate, where he's spent the past two seasons.

He's pitched for the Giants in each of the past two years, posting a 10.98 ERA (37 earned runs in 30 1/3 innings) in 14 appearances (three starts).

Lavarnway and Peterson were with the Cubs for four days. Lavarnway, 27, had spent the last seven seasons in the Red Sox organization, batting .299 in 25 games on the 2013 World Series championship team. He was claimed off waivers by the Dodgers on Dec. 5 but designated for assignment Dec. 10.

Peterson was claimed by the Brewers for the second time in a few days. The Cubs had claimed Peterson last Friday when the Brewers also put in a claim on him. A left-handed hitter, Peterson, 26, played for Oakland's Triple-A Sacramento team last season.