The starting pitching glut continues to threaten Tom Gorzelanny’s existence as a Chicago Cub, and, indeed, the Cubs are hearing from a number of teams about the lefty.
The Washington Nationals are the latest to showing interest, according to a major-league source. The New York Mets and Baltimore Orioles have been said to be interested as well. ESPN Chicago.
No surprises there. I’ve heard that, without limitations (and possibly among others), some names the Cubs are kicking around in return are Reese Havens from the Mets (2008 first round pick, lefty-hitting second baseman; very well thought-of, but slowed by injuries over the last two years) and Josh Bell from the Orioles (big time third base prospect who got a cup of coffee last year; O’s acquired him from the Dodgers for George Sherrill in 2009).
Either of those guys – or those type of guys – would be a pretty impressive return for Gorzelanny, but given the fact that he’s cheap, effective, lefty, and under control for 2011 and 2012, the Cubs would be right to ask. They may not get a top prospect in return, but that’s absolutely where the discussions should start.
One ironic side note to the Garza trade: if the Cubs overpaid, they helped trend the market upward for a guy like Gorzelanny.