The Milwaukee Brewers have claimed shortstop Jeff Bianchi off waivers from the Chicago Cubs, as the team announced on its official Twitter feed. The move pushes Milwaukee's 40-man roster count up to 39, while the claim frees up a spot on Chicago's 40-man roster for the recently-signed Paul Maholm.
Bianchi, 25, has spent his entire career in the Kansas City Royals organization. He was emerging as a pretty good prospect in that farm system before Tommy John surgery knocked out his entire 2010 season. He came back in 2011 to spend the entire year with Double-A Northwest Arkansas, posting a .259/.320/.333 line with 20 steals in 119 games.
A second-round pick in 2005, Bianchi offers the Brewers some additional depth for their infield. Milwaukee's starting infield is set after acquiring Aramis Ramirez and Alex Gonzalez, but he'll compete with the likes of Taylor Green, Cesar Izturis, Eric Farris, Brooks Conrad and others to get a bench role.
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