Sources: Cubs trading Gorzelanny to Nats
Cubs general manager Jim Hendry is not done dealing.
After obtaining pitcher Matt Garza from the Tampa Bay Rays earlier this month, Hendry is set to lighten the load on the pitching staff.
Sources confirmed Monday that the Cubs are in the process of trading left-hander Tom Gorzelanny to the Washington Nationals for three midlevel minor-league prospects.
Neither team can comment because Gorzelanny first must pass a physical exam in Washington. However, snowy weather in Chicago may delay Gorzelanny getting to D.C. after he attended this past weekend's Cubs convention in Chicago. An announcement could come as early as Tuesday.
The impending deal hardly comes as a surprise. The Cubs have a glut of starting pitching, and Hendry can get some payroll relief by dealing Gorzelanny, an arbitration-eligible player who made $800,000 last year.
The Cubs also can use the prospects to restock their minor-league system. In addition to outfielder Sam Fuld, the Cubs sent prospects Chris Archer, Hak-Ju Lee, Matt Guyer and Robinson Chirinos to Tampa Bay for Garza.
Gorzelanny, 28, went 7-9 with a 4.09 ERA last year with the Cubs in 29 games, 23 of them starts. In 136 innings, he gave up 136 hits and 68 walks while striking out 119.
The Cubs obtained him and reliever John Grabow from the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 30, 2009.
Gorzelanny made $800,000 last year and likely could push the $2 million mark this year.
The move leaves the Cubs with three arbitration-eligible players to sign: Garza, closer Carlos Marmol and left-handed setup man Sean Marshall. Teams and players will exchange salary-arbitration figures Tuesday.
Word out of Washington is that one of the prospects the Cubs will get is right fielder Michael Burgess and another will be right-handed pitcher A.J. Morris.
Burgess, 22, played in Class AAA and Class AA ball last year, hitting a combined 18 homers. Morris, 24, pitched at Class A Potomac, going 5-3 with a 3.88 ERA in 23 games, 12 of them starts.
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