NEWSLETTER
The will-they-won’t-they saga between the Chicago Cubs and Brandon Webb is second only to the will-they-won’t-they saga between the Chicago Cubs and Matt Garza. According to Bruce Levine, the “will they” part is back on.
In his weekly chat yesterday, he was dropping suggestions all over the place that the Cubs are still going hard after Garza.
Garza is the guy they’re after.
I can guarantee you Hendry is working hard over the holidays to try to obtain Garza or another quality starter.
The Cubs I’m sure will kick the tires on Carmona, although I’m hearing Cleveland is asking for other teams’ top two prospects. Cubs have prospects to trade for a pitcher, but not guys like Jackson or Archer. Garza is the more likely candidate to come to Chicago.
Hendry continues to pursue starting pitching and Garza is still at the top of the list. Don’t panic yet. Santa may still add somethign to your stocking.
As far as trades go, they’re all interested in the same guys: Garza and Carmona. It will take a boat load of good, young talent to obtain either one. The Cubs are going to be in it all the way. Chat with Bruce Levine – ESPN Chicago.
You had to believe, following the Zack Greinke trade, that the Cubs would re-engage the Rays about Garza. As you’ll recall, talks died over the past couple of weeks when the two sides reached a stalemate on prospects. The Greinke trade seems to have re-ignited those talks, but – if that’s true – then the Cubs are now negotiating from a position of weakness.
Levine also confirmed what I’d been hearing – that the one guy that Tampa has been trying to insist the Cubs include is Hak-Ju Lee. He also confirmed that Robinson Chirinos would probably be in the deal. I’m sure we’ll be hearing more about Garza over the next few days/weeks/months.
One item to note – it sounds like Levine is saying the Indians are asking for more for Carmona than the Rays are for Garza – which is simply nuts. Carmona is less reliable, less effective in the aggregate over his career, and more expensive.
