The Chicago Cubs are currently 15 games out of first place in the National League central and with another losing season coming, the team may be the first ones to start selling for the trading deadline, as Matt Garza, Alfonso Soriano, Scott Feldman, Kevin Gregg and Nate Schierholtz all could be on their way out of town.
According to Buster Olney at ESPN.com, the Cubs are already shopping players around the league as they try to sign their draft picks and with Anthony Rizzo as the only player dominating on offense, Theo Epstein is happy to move on with him and Starlin Castro as his main core. The team had been reportedly working on an extension with Garza, but all current signs point to him being dealt again after he came over from the Rays.
Epstein said that the team is looking to try and get young pitching back in any deals and the team was ready to trade Garza last season before he was injured and they may try again now. Epstein mentioned how young pitchers have been moved in deals over the past few years and the team has pitchers to move themselves, including Scott Feldman and Kevin Gregg. The team is 31-43 this season and going nowhere fast, which is why teams will be targeting their players as the deadline gets closer.
Nate Schierholtz is a solid option for teams looking for a bat, as he is hitting over .280 this season and another attractive star is Kevin Gregg, as he has 10 saves and a sub-1.00 ERA this season and that could make him a target for the Tigers who desperately need a closer. The 29-year-old Garza is the top name so far and he has a 2-1 record with a 4.25 ERA and a solid strikeout total.
David DeJesus could also be moved and Soriano looks likely as he is nearing the end of his deal and after last season's solid numbers of .262, 32 HR and 108 RBIs, it's looking more and more likely that he is on the move this deadline. Feldman will be a solid addition at 3-3, 2.53 ERA and he could end up being a solid starter for a playoff team down the line. Schierholtz is 29-years-old and for teams looking for a bat heading into the summer, he is a solid option.