Cubs Rumor Bag: Bleacher Nation, Soto, Pitchers, and Levine Speaks

Bleacher Nation has an AMAZING run down of trade candidates for the Chicago Cubs. It is jammed pack full of info and I strongly suggest reading it.

Dempster is not ruling out pitching this weekend for Chicago but it is unlikely.

Rays GM Andrew Friedman says their club is looking to make upgrades and can take on money but only for players with 2+ years of control because of the new CBA agreement. This matters and falls in line with the Geovany Soto to Rays rumors bouncing around. My guess is he goes to the Rays before the trade deadline.

The Rangers really like Matt Garza and have been scouting him over a month along with many other high profiled pitchers. The Rangers are a team that Cubs would love to deal with given their great talent pool in their farm system.

The Tigers love Darwin Barney but the Cubs asking price is reportedly one of Drew Smyly, Jacob Turner, or Casey Crosby. So talks have not progressed very far.

Here is Levine’s latest-

· The Dodgers remain interested in Dempster but so does the Yankees, Red Sox and 3 other contenders.

· The Tigers had their top evaluator, Bruce Tanner, watching the Cubs last week. Adding either Dempster or Garza would not be a shock.

· Shawn Camp could interest the White Sox or any contender for that matter.

· Levine sees Garza getting dealt because you don’t want a frustrated pitcher on a young team.

· There were teams last year that wanted Soto badly at the deadline and Hendry even turned down a Pirates/Soto trade last season. (Must be talking about the pending deal of Soto for Pedro Alvarez straight up that was turned down. A deal I talked about last season.)

· Marmol will have to pitch well for another 2 weeks to get a good return for him.

· Barney may not fit into the high OBP player Barney is so he may not be the future at 2b.

· Like most; Levine is not impressed with the righty lineup put out there against lefties.

· The front office is willing to trade with anyone if they can get the prospects they want. Even if that team is the Cards.

· Levine still does not see Vitters getting the call up in September. I disagree; I think you will see him up there if Barney is traded.

· Many teams have asked about Barney but the Cubs have not heard an offer they like yet.

· Travis Wood looks legit according to Levine.

· Bruce says Soriano would approve a trade to a contender and the Rays are an option but also says Soriano provides protection for Rizzo and Castro (which I think does not matter at all).

· The Cards and Pirates could be interested in Maholm becaue of price and numbers.

· The Sox could be a location for Dempster but the White Sox have to have money and prospects to get him, so that is unlikely.

Until Next Time….