As you have probably heard, the Red Sox brass reportedly asked for starting pitcher Matt Garza in exchange for the services of Theo Epstein. My first reaction was to laugh a little, but then I thought, “Man, that takes a set of balls to ask for Garza…and I like it!”
They had to know going into negotiations that there was no way in hell they would land a proven major league starting pitcher like Garza, but the message they sent was perhaps the more important part.
You want one of the best GMs in the league, one which we still have under contract? You had better be ready to pay up! Even beyond a negotiation tactic, this sends a clear message to Mr. Epstein himself: You want to leave? We want to cripple you as you go. The one clear and present need for the Cubs is starting pitching, even more so than the Red Sox. Ryan Dempster has a $14M player option, so his future in Chicago is uncertain. If they were to lose Garza and Dempster, you’re looking at a long road to recovery on the north side. As it stands, the Cubs at least have Garza and maybe Dempster, who has a good connection with the Cubs and the city of Chicago. They have the payroll flexibility to go after at least one or two more starters. Even with the bad contracts in place, there is potential for a Quick fix in Wrigleyville.
The front office is not taking these negotiations lightly, which is a terrific sign. They have a chance to acquire something of substance; a player that can help in the rebuilding of their farm system. By all accounts, they’re certainly aiming to do so and settling for nothing less.