Cubs acquire lefty prospect Smith from Brewers

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The Cubs added another left-handed pitcher to the bullpen on Thursday, acquiring Caleb Smith, who was the Brewers’ selection in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft. The Brewers traded Smith to the Cubs for cash considerations.

Smith, 25, was plucked by Milwaukee from the Yankees with the seventh-overall pick in the Rule 5 Draft, which was held on the final day of the Winter Meetings at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. With the addition of Smith, the Cubs’ 40-man roster is now at 36.

Clubs pay $100,000 to select a player in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft. If that player does not stay on the 25-man roster for the full season, he must be offered back to team from which he was drafted for $50,000.

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Smith is 24-23 with three saves and a 3.41 ERA in 94 games, including 69 starts. He was the Yankees’ 14th-round pick in the 2013 Draft. The lefty has held opponents to a .236 average in his career, giving up 18 homers over 367 1/3 innings.

He spent this past season at Double-A Trenton, and appeared in 27 games (seven starts), striking out 70 and walking …

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