Cubs Minor Transactions: Ryan Sweeney and Donnie Murphy

While the Cubs 25 man roster has been settled for the time being, Theo Epstein and Company have remained busy combing through the list of available players that have either hit waivers or been released by their previous clubs. Jacob filled us in on the Ryan Sweeney signing yesterday and news of the Donnie Murphy deal came about today. The outfielder and infielder, respectively, were both assigned to Triple A Iowa and will not need to be added to the 40 man roster until they would be called up to Wrigley Field.

Sweeney offers another left handed bat to the outfield depth that already features David DeJesus and Nate Schierholtz in the Majors, and Brett Jackson and Brian Bogusevic in the minors. Sweeney is a career .280 hitter that was cut by the Red Sox after a poor Spring.

Sep 8, 2012; Washington, DC, USA; Miami Marlins third baseman Donnie Murphy (22) hits a double against the Washington Nationals during the second inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Murphy is the signing that probably has the better chance of the two to sneak his way onto the Cubs 25 man roster at some point this season. The former Marlin is able to handle all non first base infield spots defensively. He has displayed some pop in his bat over the small sample of 244 Major League games played in his career, but he has hit above .220 just once. With the question mark at third base yet to be confidently answered by a combination of Luis Valbuena, Brent Lillibridge, and possibly Ian Stewart, the Cubs are just basically stock piling bodies with hopes of catching lightening in a bottle.

Any Cubbies Crib readers out there missing Mike Fontenot right about now?