Rumors Gone Wild...

• Bruce Levine feels the Cubs should hang onto Soriano because of his numbers this year and he is a good influence on younger players.  I think if you have a taker for Soriano you deal him.
• The Cubs locked up their first 20 picks in the draft.
• It really does not matter the Cubs have won 11 of their last 15 because they are still in last place and Hoyer said they are sellers.
• Many say yesterday's start for Dempster is his last.  More than 10 teams have interest in the veteran starter.
• The Cubs may go for quality over quantity for Dempster.  In fact I am hearing the Cubs may just want one top prospect for Dempster.  Maybe like a Zach Lee for Ryan Dempster type deal.
• Buster Olney said via twitter that the Cubs are going to push the Dempster talks in next week, partly to clear decks for Garza talks later.  (Man I love how this front office works)
• The Pirates are one of the ten teams with a ton of interest in Ryan Dempster and Matt Garza.  I love the Pirates system and would love to deal either one to get some pieces from their farm system.
• The Rangers are unwilling to deal Mike Olt, Jurickson Profar, or Martin Perez for a rental player but are willing to deal one for a player under control for more than one year or willing to sign an extension before a trade is completed.
• There are mixed reports about the trade interest in Soriano.  One source is saying interest in minimal at best while another says there are two AL and one NL team interested in trading for the aging outfielder.
• George Ofman says the Tiger prefer Garza over Dempster.
• Ofman also says the Cubs have two offers on the table for Ryan Dempster.
• Ofman suggest two players from the Dodgers that do not impress me LHP Chris Withrow and RHP Garrett Gould.
• He also says the Tigers deal for Dempster could include a young lefty which it could be Andy Oliver, Casey Crosby, or Adam Wilk.  I would take any of those three but there would still have to be more IMO.
• The White Sox and Cubs are talking about a Reed Johnson deal which I reported via twitter yesterday.  A low level minor league player may head the Cubs way.
• To add to the Reed Johnson trade speculation I am hearing the Cubs could be targeting a low A ball player or more established AAA player. I am hearing Jared Mitchell, Charles Leesman, Gregory Infante, or Andre Rienzo could come the Cubs way from the southsiders.
• The White Sox and Yankees like Ryan Dempster but only the Yankees can put together a deal for him because the Sox do not have the talent Jed and Theo are looking for unless they want to include Sale in a deal.
• Ofman chimes in again saying a Tigers deal for Dempster could include Barney.  I am hearing if the Tigers do deal for Dempster or Garza; Barney will likely be included.
• It looks more and more likely that the Tigers will end up trading for Garza with all the smoke I am seeing and I am leaning toward a deal that has Garza, Barney, and Vitters going to Detroit for Castellanos, Turner, and a prospect or two.
• As of right now I see Dempster and LaHair going to the Dodgers. Soriano and Soto going to the Rays. Garza, Barney, and Vitters going to the Tigers. Maholm to the Pirates or Cards. Baker to the Nationals. Reed Johnson and Shawn Camp to the White Sox.
• Soriano would accept a trade to the Rays but has not been asked yet according to a person close to Alfonso.
• Dempster and Garza will likely not be traded by themselves.
• Tigers cannot obtain both Dempster and Garza according to Ofman.  Boy would I like to see them try.  How about Garza, Dempster, Barney, and Vitters for Castellanos, Turner, Rondon, Andy Oliver, Casey Crosby, Tyler Clark, Brian Flynn, and Daniel Bennett? Sounds good to me.
• A source told me do not be surprised if Brett Jackson is included in a trade involving a piece like Barney, Dempster, LaHair, or Graza.
• I am still hearing the Cubs could end up dealing up to 10 players on their 25 man roster.

Until Next Time...