Cubs right-hander Matt Garza could be a popular trade target this offseason or season (AP)

Last winter, under former GM Jim Hendry, the Cubs made a surprisingly bold trade with the Rays for right-hander Matt Garza. In exchange for the 27-year-old (as well as minor leaguer Zach Rossup and outfielder Fernando Perez), the Cubs gave up highly regarded right-hander Chris Archer and shortstop Hak-Ju Lee (both of whom were ranked as top 100 prospects entering 2011 by Baseball America), along with briefly legendary outfielder Sam Fuld (a top defensive outfielder), outfielder Brandon Guyer and catcher Robinson Chirinos.

At the time, the Cubs were looking to capture three pre-free agent seasons of Garza, a right-hander with the stuff to handle AL East lineups, thereby making him a good candidate to dominate in the National League Central. And Garza largely lived up to that expectation. Despite a 10-10 record (a reflection of his team rather than his individual performance), he had a 3.32 ERA while striking out a career-high 9.0 batters per nine innings and walking 2.9 per nine frames. He also gave up fewer homers than ever (0.6 per nine innings). Read the rest of this entry »

Theo Epstein isn't the GM of the Cubs just yet, as Chicago and the Red Sox continue to hash out a deal. (AP)

After the news broke last week that the Cubs and Red Sox were close to reaching a deal that would make Theo Epstein the next general manager of Chicago, the two sides are reportedly still negotiating how Boston will be compensated for letting Epstein make the move to the Cubs.

Both the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune are reporting that if the two sides do not come to a resolution before the start of the World Series on Wednesday, they may have to wait until after the Series ends to officially announce Epstein as GM due to MLB’s blackout rule on major announcements during the World Series.

The Sun-Times reports that the Red Sox are intent on prying top pitching prospect Trey McNutt from the Cubs, while the Tribune reports that Boston wants either McNutt or fellow pitching prospect Andrew Cashner.

David Kaplan from CSNChicago.com reports that sources familiar with the situation say a deal will not be reached before the World Series, but neither side is concerned with the timetable and are instead focused on finding a satisfactory compensation package for both teams.

Also for CSNChicago.com, Patrick Mooney writes that both sides will need to finalize the deal soon, pointing out that both teams will have very little time to prepare for free agency once the World Series ends. Mooney says that the Red Sox have based their negotiations off of the deal that sent former White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen to the Marlins for two prospects. Sooner or later, Mooney writes, Epstein will be in Chicago with a five-year deal and two former Cubs prospects will be a part of the Red Sox organization.

For the Tribune, Paul Sullivan writes that Epstein’s use of sabermetrics to evaluate players is one reason that Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts is so interested in bringing him in to be GM. Sullivan says that the Cubs were slow to the uptake on sabermetrics, but that the numbers will now determine the future of Chicago with Epstein running the team.

ESPNChicago.com reports that Boston initially asked for starting pitcher Matt Garza as compensation for Epstein, but the Cubs quickly shot that idea down. The report also said that one hold-up in the deal concerns whether Epstein will be allowed to bring any of his own staff to Chicago.

In the Sun-Times, Gordon Wittenmyer detailed how Boston fans are still reeling from the September collapse and how the departure of Terry Francona and imminent departure of Epstein have kept the collapse fresh in the minds of Red Sox fans. Wittenmyer wrote about the mixed feelings that many Sox fans have about Epstein leaving Boston.

According to a report from Peter Gammons, Cubs general manager Jim Hendry has “no interest” in dealing starting pitchers Matt Garza or Ryan Dempster before the July 31 deadline.

“Jim Hendry has no interest in trading Dempster or Garza during season,” Gammons wrote on Sunday.

With the back injury  to Clay Buchholz and the struggles of John Lackey and Andrew Miller, Garza has been the subject of trade rumors to Boston. The right-hander is 4-7 with a 3.97 ERA this season. Dempster is 7-6 with an ERA of 4.68.

According to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs general manager Jim Hendry already is fielding calls from contenders interested in some of his players. He has said that he thinks the Cubs will be agressive at this year’s trade deadline, looking to get better for the future, but will most likely hold onto its teams pitchers.

“No matter what, it doesn’t really change the focus of what we’ll try to do here over the next month,” Hendry said. “Everything we try to do will be designed to try to get better moving forward. And there won’t be pieces moved that are going to be integral parts of the club a year from now.’’

Wittenmyer does not believe the Cubs will trade starting pitchers Ryan Dempster, Carlos Zambrano or Matt Garza. He also believes that Kerry Wood will be staying put.

Third-baseman Aramis Ramirez, is another player that might draw some interest closer to the deadline, but he has expressed little interest in waiving his no-trade clause.

“We’ll try to be aggressive and if some things [arise] that help us get better for next year,’’ Hendry said.

The Cubs enter the All-Star break with a 37-55 record and trail the NL Central leading Brewers by 12 games.

Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune reported over the weekend that the Cubs right-hander Matt Garza is “high on the list” of pitchers the Red Sox are considering trading for. Garza is 4-7 with a 4.26 ERA this season with a 3-to-1 strikeout-walk ratio.

Garza has spent six years in the majors, coming up with the Twins and spending three seasons with the Rays before his trade to the Cubs this past offseason. The 27-year-old has a 46-51 career record and a 4.00 ERA.

Garza, who helped the Rays beat the Red Sox in the 2008 American League Championship Series, has plenty of experience pitching in the AL East. He’s 16-11 with a 3.10 ERA and .241 BAA in 37 career games against the Blue Jays, Orioles and Yankees. He’s also 5-3 with a 3.81 ERA at Fenway.

With the Cubs reeling and looking to rebuild, starting pitchers Ryan Dempster, Carlos Zambrano, and Matt Garza have been targeted as Chicago’s most valuable trade pieces. However, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that the Cubs will more than likely hang on to those arms, since the rotation is their most glaring weakness.

While those pitchers may be off limits, general manager Jim Hendry promised to be aggressive as the July 31 trade deadline approaches.

“Everything we try to do will be designed to try to get better moving forward,” he said. “And there won’t be pieces moved that are going to be integral parts of the club a year from now.”

The Cubs are 36-54 entering Saturday.

The Cubs, fresh on taking one big name away from the Rays in Carlos Pena, appear intent on getting another. According to a report from ESPNChicago, Tampa and Chicago officials met for a second time on Wednesday to discuss a deal that would land the Cubs right-handed pitcher Matt Garza.

Bruce Levine writes that the Rays would get a number of top prospects from the Cubs in the deal. Regardless of the return package, the Rays would be who would be losing a guy who was second among their starters in wins (15), innings pitched (204.2), earned run average (3.91), and WHIP (1.25).

The Brewers and Rangers are also reportedly interested in a trade for Garza, but Levine notes that the Brewers are waiting to see what happens with Carl Pavano. The Rangers, of course, are still attempting to retain the services of Cliff Lee.