The Chicago Cubs are one of the most likely teams to deal at the deadline after being out of the playoff race for most of the year and with Theo Epstein building for the future, the team has already moved Matt Garza and it appears that Nate Schierholtz and closer Kevin Gregg could be the next ones to move.
According to Buster Olney at ESPN.com, the team is getting some interest from teams in Schierholtz and since there aren't too many hitters on the market, he could be one player that ends up getting moved. Some teams that could be options include the Yankees, Orioles, Rangers as well as the Pirates, who are currently working on a deal with Alex Rios and if that falls through they could go back to the Cubs.
The team could also come back anyway, as Gregg could be on the move as a closer and the team happens to have an injured one in Jason Grilli right now. Schierholtz is hitting .274 with 14 home runs and that type of pop could be very valuable to teams that are dealing with some stagnating offense, including the Yankees and the Rangers both. Hunter Pence was moved late in the deadline when he was traded and the same things can happen for Schierholtz, as his contract is very manageable this season for whoever decided to snag him from the Cubs.
Theo Epstein is happy to move on with Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro as his main core. The team had been reportedly working on an extension with Garza, he is now gone with the Texas Rangers. 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.
