The Chicago Cubs were close to a deal for Tampa Bay starter Matt Garza yesterday, and then… nothing happened. Obviously 95% of trades that are discussed never actually happen. But is this one truly dead, or just held up?
Hard to say.
Paul Sullivan reported yesterday that a deal for Matt Garza is “unlikely,” citing reports that Rays’ management had said Garza wouldn’t be traded (though, like, what else are they going to say?).
But conflicting reports arose as late as last evening – some had the two sides still talking, others had the deal dead, with the Rays deciding to hold onto Garza until mid-season. So the deal’s status could not be more unclear, and its future more uncertain. I do know that as of late Wednesday night, after the Cubs met with the Rays to discuss Garza, the Cubs had the most attractive package to offer, and a deal looked almost like a foregone conclusion. What happened thereafter is unclear, though there are whispers that the Rays asked for shortstop prospect Hak-Ju Lee, something that Jim Hendry balked at.
On the plus side, the more the Garza trade deteriorates, I’m hearing the more likely the Chris Davis/Darren O’Day deal is. If things continue as they’ve been, the deal could be done as early as next week.