Cub Trade Possibilities

We're nearly in July, which holds the time of the Baseball Season known as "The Trade Deadline", so let's use yesterday's off day to take a look at some of the possibilities for the Cubs to strengthen their team.

So, what do the Cubs need?

Well, the offense has been outstanding, and with the way that Jim Edmonds has been hitting lately, that left handed outfielder doesn't seem to be as dire a need. Therefore, the help the Cubs will look for is probably in pitching.

In the minors are two pitchers who might come up to help this season, the 1st round draft picks from the last couple of seasons. Andrew Cashner picked this year (out of TCU) could very well be up and helping out the back end of the rotation this season. Jeff Samardzija just recently got promoted and will probably have a chance to join the team later this season as well, also possibly in the bullpen.

What the Cubs really need is some rotation help.

Zambrano is an ace number one starter, and Dempster has been pitching lights out so far this season. Ted Lilly appears to be straightening things out and Marquis has been a servicable back end of the rotation type, but if the Cubs added another stud towards the front end of the rotation, they would instantly become World Series favorites, and it appears that Jim Hendry (the Cubs GM) knows this and is looking into the possibility of strengthening the rotation.

Here are the names being mentioned...

C.C. Sabathia-Cleveland Indians

Last season's AL Cy Young winner is coming to the end of his contract, and the Indians aren't living up to the expectations, so rumors are heating up about the Indians ace, you also hasn't been living up to expectations thus far this season, but would be at the very least an intimadating presence, and a change of scenery could be just what the big pitcher needs to reclaim his magic.

Rich Harden-Oakland A's

The A's often make big trades at deadline time and during the offseason, getting new, young talent as soon as the older, young talent starts to near free agency. Rich Harden is probably one of the best young pitchers in baseball, but has had an injury plagued career thus far, and after the last few seasons being haunted by the near greatness of Kerry Wood and Mark Prior being halted by injuries, the Cubs probably won't want to give up what it will cost to get Harden, especially since the A's are in the race in the AL West. If Harden were healthy, however, he would turn into an instant ace at the top of the rotation along with Zambrano.

Eric Bedard-Seattle Mariners

The Cubs actually tried to make a trade for Bedard (then with the O's) at the beginning of Spring Training, but it was the huge deal from the Mariners that landed him. However, the Mariners now have the worst record in baseball and are a team going no where. They have fired the manager and general manager, and admitting that trading for Bedard was a mistake is a possibility. They might try and get prospects back for him, although they won't get back nearly what they gave up especially since Bedard has struggled thus far this season for his new team. A change to the DH-less National League might be just the thing to catapult Bedard back to his dominating ways, however.

Greg Maddox or Randy Wolf-San Diego Padres

While the Mariners have dropped to the bottom of the American League despite their high hopes coming into the season, the same thing has happened to the Padres in the NL. A few seasons ago, the Cubs traded Maddox to the Padres for very little so he could have one last taste of the playoffs before retiring, now the Padres could return the favor as well as letting Maddox retire with the team that he started out with.

AJ Burnett-Toronto Blue Jays

Burnett has openly talked about wanting to play on the North Side of Chicago, and the Blue Jays have openly talked about trading him.

Gil Meche-Kansas City Royals

While the Royals would probably be interested in finding out what they could recieve for the right hander, he has a no trade clause and says that he has not been asked to waive it as of yet.

Randy Winn-San Fransisco Giants

They would probably want young arms in trade, which would put the Cubs as a likely suitor, with names like Kevin Hart, Sean Gallagher, Rich Hill, and Sean Marshall all probably available and one or two of those would most likely be involved with any of these trades, along with someone like Matt Murton, Felix Pie, Eric Patterson, or (hopefully not) Micah Hoffpauir.

One of these pitchers will probably be a Chicago Cub by July 31st, and I think Eric Bedard is the most likely, but I would love it to be Sabathia.

Cubs take on Baltimore tonight looking for another sweep at the Friendly Confines which have been even friendlier then normal so far this season (Cubs home record 32-8).

Go Cubs.