Cubs Rumor Bag: Dempster, Garza, Barney, Soriano, Soto, and Much More...

Tony La Russa sucks something big. Not putting in LaHair after taking out Votto in favor of a 3^rd baseman in Freese playing 1^st; seriously dude! Then the kicker is not playing Castro until the last few innings. This guy needs to go back to rambling and stumbling on tape to the cops and saying his ABCZDF8 rather being anywhere near a baseball diamond. I feel better now!

The Cubs and White Sox will not play 6 games anymore. Interleague play will go to a more balanced format that will have the Cubs and Sox play 4 total games’ home and home.

10 teams scouted Dempster yesterday according to sources including the Dodgers, Braves, Indians, Red Sox, Angels, Yankees, and more…

Jon Heyman chimes in today with some Cubs chatter saying the Dodgers and Cubs are discussing possible trades that would send either Ryan Dempster or Matt Garza to LA. He says the Dodgers are the favorite to land Demspter while they have also had conversations about Garza. (Nothing really new just reaffirming what we already know).

The Cubs could have interest in Justin Upton but not at the price the Dbacks are asking for. You remember when I said a while back the Cubs and Dbacks were discussing Upton. Well if not here you go.

The Indians, Pirates, Rays, Nationals, and several other teams are battling to get Josh Willingham, Justin Upton, and/or Carlos Quentin. The teams that don’t land or want to pay the bounty for those 3 will likely end up with Soriano. We have heard the Indians, Pirates, and Rays as the most serious suitors for Soriano.

The Rays could pull off a Soto and Soriano package according to a source.

The Indians are very interested in Dempster but may not have the prospects the Cubs want.

The Dodgers would like to get Garza or Dempster plus LaHair and may end up paying big for that package.

BleacherNation has an interesting take on the Red Sox/Cubs trade involving Ryan Sweeney.

If the Angels cannot land Greinke or Hamels they would turn their attention to Garza or Dempster. Talk has the Angels willing to trade players such as Mark Trumbo, Jordan Walden, Jean Segura, Garrett Richards, and/or John Hellweg for starting pitching.

The Cubs would be willing to trade Barney and Garza to Detroit if the Cubs can get a package headlined with Nick Castellanos, Jacob Turner, and at least 3 other solid prospects. If the Cubs received Castellanos then one of Josh Vitters or Junior Lake could become trade bait.

The Latest from Levine-

• It will take another outing or two before Dempster gets moved.
• Good chance Maholm gets traded as well as Johnson and Baker.
• Garza will be traded this year and will bring back the most prospects.
• Garza is less attractive as a trade candidate next season.
• No way Jamie Moyer comes back to the Cubs.
• Cubs would like to develop Samardzija and have him around for years.
• Campana is average outfielder with below average arm and still cannot hit with consistency. That is why he is not playing.
• The Cubs pay roll could be down over $30M next season and be under $90M.
• Baez could be in AA by next season but does not know if he will be a SS or 3^rd baseman.
• The White Sox could be interested in Reed Johnson.
• The only way the Cubs trade Barney is for a young 2^nd base prospect back in a deal.
• If a team is willing to overpay for LaHair he will be traded. (Like the Dodgers?)
• Dodgers are the front-runners for Dempster but the Braves and Indians may give up a better package.
• Unless the Dbacks are interested in Garza the Cubs can’t get Upton.
• Almora will play in short season rookie ball and Soler could start in Class A.
• Again Levine does not see Soriano being traded. He says the Cubs will have to watch him play here or release him because of the $50M left on his contract. (Just want to say Levine could not be more WRONG on this. The guy’s main source is Casey Coleman for goodness sake.)
• Nate Jones, Beckham, and Molina would not get the White Sox Barney and Dempster.

Until Next Time…