Cubs reluctant sellers in trade market
The July 31 nonwaiver trading deadline is approaching quickly, and the Cubs definitely will be sellers.
Even with a recent run of 11-4, including Saturday’s 4-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Cubs have a record of 35-52.
That’s why they’re in “sell” mode. Although the Cubs do have some marketable players they can move, general manager Jed Hoyer wasn’t necessarily looking at that as a good thing Saturday.
“I don’t think there is ever a good year,” he said of selling. “It’s not a position you want to be in. Certainly there are ways you can improve the organization by being in that situation, but it’s frustrating because that means your record isn’t that good. It also means the players that are being asked about are good players, and neither one is a positive.
“When you are in this situation, you think you have to do the best thing you can for the organization and you hope you aren’t in this position very often.”
The names of Saturday’s starting pitcher, Ryan Dempster, and Matt Garza (who starts Sunday) come up most often. Hoyer admitted talks heat up after the just-concluded all-star break.
“I think the all-star break, people try to get away a little bit and people are sheepish about making phone calls during the break,” Hoyer said. “Once the break is over, the phone lines definitely started ringing. I expect that they will pick up over the next two weeks as we get closer to the deadline.
“Yeah, we’ve fielded quite a few (calls). A lot of teams check in with everybody so you get a lot of those. You’ll talk to every GM just to see what they are doing and what they are thinking.”
Earning a spot:Third-base prospect Josh Vitters is enjoying a breakout season at Class AAA Iowa, while center fielder Brett Jackson has been up and down #151; with the downs being his high number of strikeouts. When the Cubs called up first baseman Anthony Rizzo late last month, he had the equivalent of a full year of Triple-A under his belt. Both Vitters and Jackson will have that come September, raising the question of whether one or both could earn a call-up when Iowa#146;s season ends. #147;Sure but those guys need to force the issue, I would say,#148; said Jed Hoyer. #147;Like we talked about with Rizzo, they need to prove to us they are ready and make it clear. Then I think that is something we will see. But I think we want to make that a precedent when a prospect like that really bangs down the door then they get up here. Not hopefully because of an injury or because we want to give them a taste of it. We want it to be because they earned it.#148;Entering Saturday, Vitters had a hitting line of .304/.359/.509 with 13 home runs, 50 RBI, 24 walks and 52 strikeouts in 326 at-bats. Jackson was at .259/.341/.488 with 12 homers, 38 RBI, 37 walks and 126 strikeouts in 324 at-bats.