Left-hander Drew Pomeranz was on the brink of making his long-awaited return to the majors 11 months ago. Signed by the Giants for what he said he knew was only going to be a four-day stint, Pomeranz was warm in the bullpen and ready for the call.

His pedigree makes him an intriguing option for the Cubs bullpen, which needs to find effective relievers to cover the middle innings.

The Chicago Cubs announced Monday that they acquired Pomeranz, the 2010 No. 5 pick, from the Seattle Mariners for cash. Pomeranz, 36, is expected to join the first-place Cubs on Wednesday during their series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Pomeranz recorded a 4.66 ERA and 14-6 K-BB ratio over 9.2 innings at Triple-A Tacoma.