Bruce Levine: Cubs close to trading for Matt Garza (1/7/11)

[red222]

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Chicago Cubs are in the mix for Tampa Bay Rays right-handed pitcher Matt Garza. They are one of four teams talking to Tampa about a trade for the arbitration-eligible starting pitcher, according to a major league source.

Garza was 15-10 in 2010 with a 3.91 ERA in 32 starts.

Tampa Bay is interested in prospects in return, according to a source. The Cubs are known to have met with Tampa during these meetings as have numerous other teams.

The Cubs have also continued to kick the tires on a trade with the Texas Rangers for first baseman/third baseman Chris Davis. Even with the signing of Pena, Davis could be a valuable player coming off the bench for the Cubs next season. Texas is interested in 27-year-old catcher Robinson Chirinos, who played at Double-A last season.

Also said to be in the mix in a Davis deal is right-handed pitcher Darren O'Day, a relief specialist who was 6-2 with a 2.03 ERA in 72 games with the Rangers in 2010.

The Cubs have also had conversations with the Detroit Tigers about trading pitchers for pitchers. Detroit has asked for left-hander Tom Gorzelanny while offering right-handed pitcher Armando Galarragga, best know for the 2010 perfect game that wasn't after a bad call by first-base umpire Jim Joyce. Galarragga season was less than stellar, going 4-9 with a 4.49 ERA last season.
http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/2866/source-cubs-interested-in-garza

[karch34]

Garza really developed in Tampa Bay. I'm surprised Tampa would be looking to move him and not sure what we'd have to give up in return, but he'd be a great addition. With moving Gorzellany would we have a LH starter in the mix? Assuming Marshall stays in the pen I can't think of one, but feel like I might be missing someone off the top of my head.

[SportsWorld]

Garza was a solid, reliable pitcher in the AL East. Bring him to the NL and he'll be even better. Fine by me if the price is right.

[SportsWorld]

@Joelsherman1 Heard #Rays uninspired on offers for Garza, will likely wait and see if his value goes up in July trade market

Damn it.

[Fukudome1]

dont think thats a done deal yet. theres still a chance he gets moved in the winter.

[cold5]

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/n ... OHeadlines
Officials from the Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago Cubs met for the second time during the Winter Meetings on Wednesday night to discuss the parameters of a trade that would send right-handed pitcher Matt Garza to Chicago for a number of the Cubs' top prospects, according to multiple sources.

ESPNChicago.com Cubs blog

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Both the Milwaukee Brewers and Texas Rangers have also had meetings with Tampa about Garza, a major league source said. It appears, however, that the Cubs have the strongest bid at this point. A major league source told ESPNChicago.com that Milwaukee is talking to Carl Pavano about a three-year contract. Texas is still waiting to see what Cliff Lee is going to do.

If the Cubs were able to land Garza, he'd be the second former Ray the team acquired at the Winter Meetings. Earlier Wednesday, the team agreed to a one-year, $10-million deal with first baseman Carlos Pena.

At a news conference Wednesday, Pena was enthusiastic about the possibility of Garza joining him in Chicago.

"Matt Garza is one of those pitchers that wherever he goes is going to be an incredible asset," Pena said. "It's no secret that he is extremely talented and the sky is the limit for a guy like him. I think he's got Cy Young potential, to be honest with you. His stuff is electrifying. I think anybody would like to have a guy like that."

Garza, a 15 game winner in 2010 for the Rays, would go into the top three of the Cubs' rotation along with Carlos Zambrano and Ryan Dempster. If the Cubs can obtain another starting pitcher, they would have enough rotation depth to trade one of the team's current starters for some bullpen inventory.

The 27-year-old Garza, was 15-10 with a 3.91 ERA in 32 starts last season.

[Howling Mad]

One of the few moves I approve from the Cubs is their need to stack up pitching. Love this move. Love Garza and YES he'd look awesome in the NL.

[Howling Mad]

Also interested in Webb. Another Hendry speciality. Hurt and loooking to rebound value. Although this guy might be different, he was once the best pitcher at spurts during past seasons. Not sure if he'd ever get back up to that level, but close is good for me. If...and a big if, that happens it would be a huge success to sign him. I doubt he starts to show true spark before mid season next year. He's fresh from injury.

[SportsWorld]

Not sure what Garza's true value is but I'd be willing to give up Tyler Colvin in a deal for him.

[karch34]

That's a good question. I've only heard we wouldn't be giving up Cashner or Archer.

[Posey H8er]

I think Colvin is asking too much. I mean I like Garza a lot, but we have other less proven guys to offer. You give up Colvin if an elite starter is up for grabs.

[SportsWorld]

According to the Sun Times, the Cubs are the frontrunners for Matt Garza.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball ... eason.html

The Cubs appear to have moved past the Texas Rangers and into the driver’s seat in efforts to acquire Tampa Bay Rays 15-game winner Matt Garza — a potential move that could put the Cubs back into the National League Central title conversation for 2011.

A major-league source said Tuesday the Cubs were close to trading for the power-pitching right-hander, just as the Rangers were committing a big multiyear deal to third baseman Adrian Beltre and appeared to be pursuing free-agent closer Rafael Soriano. Those efforts come after the Rangers fell short in their efforts to use the money to keep big-ticket free-agent pitcher Cliff Lee.

Landing Garza — who has as many postseason wins as the returning Cubs roster combined — would be a significant response to upstart Cincinnati’s pitching-driven division title last season and division-rival Milwaukee’s trade for Cy Young winner Zack Greinke last month.

It would give the Cubs a Ryan Dempster-Garza-Carlos Zambrano top three to their starting rotation and make the back end look stronger with only two spots between Andrew Cashner, Randy Wells, Carlos Silva, Tom Gorzelanny and Jeff Samardzija. That would open the door for one or more of them to be traded in a next-step deal, depending on who might be included in a Garza move.

[ChronicKerr]

Here's to being competitive next year!!!!

[SportsWorld]

Buster Olney and the Tribune were quick to deny it.

[Neusch23]

Pitching is the key. Has Garza ever pitched at wrigg, or are there any good metric out there that would show how he may do in a smaller park?

I think he would be a great fit, he is a true #2 starter, with ace stuff if he gets an even stronger hold on his command.

[FRKMSTR]

Bruce Levine was just on ESPN1000 and reported a deal to land Matt Garza in a multi-player transaction is very close to happening.

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/n ... id=5998431

[SportsWorld]

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/n ... id=5998431

The Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago Cubs are close to agreeing to a multi-player deal that would bring right-handed pitcher Matt Garza to Chicago, according to a major league source.

The deal could include upwards of eight players.

The Cubs and at least three other teams had been negotiating with the Rays about Garza since the winter meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. on Dec. 5.

Garza, 27, is coming off his best big league season, compiling a 15-10 record with a 3.91 ERA. Garza averaged 6.6 strikeouts and 2.77 walks per nine innings. Hitters batted .248 against Garza in 2010.

[SportsWorld]

Bruce Miles says the deal is Hak-Ju Lee, Chris Archer, Robinson Chirinos and Brandon Guyer to the Rays for Matt Garza