It has been a pretty boring spring training. The only "news" from camp of note is the team video camera operator advancing in the team's bunting tournament.
So, the talk turns to the inevitable July trade deadline flea market sale of Cub talent.
What are the trade prospects?
Matt Garza would have been pushed hard at last year's deadline, but he hurt his arm. One would have thought he would be fully back in form by now, but he had another set-back injury at the beginning of spring training. As it stands today, he has the label of "injury prone" risk. Garza will be on the DL to start the season, so the idea of trading him before opening day is ZERO chance. Even a trade at the July deadline seems remote.
Carlos Marmol would have been traded to the Angels in the off season but for the Cubs allegedly panicking about Dan Haren's medical records. The Cubs worried about a pitcher's medicals? Really? But Marmol is an expensive closer in a weak closer market. Most teams now have an emphasis on starters than expensive relievers. Marmol has a limited no trade to at least 4 west coast teams (and that is where the monied owners live). The odds of Marmol being traded before opening day is around 10 percent; by the trade deadline 20 percent.
Alfonso Soriano has been the trade rumor mega-factory for the last several years. He is still owed $36 million. He was productive last year, but has the fragile body that screams "fragile." Soriano has a full no trade right. He has hinted that he would go to an east coast contender like the Yankees, but the Yanks are in no position to add old money to the roster. Besides, Soriano may be just telling those stories to make the fans think he is a good guy, a team player. Soriano is more comfortable on a team with low expectations, low stress - - so the odds of him agreeing to a trade are about 1 percent.
The Cubs signed the Scotts (Baker and Feldman) to short term deals for the sole purpose of having themselves rehab into trade bait. Baker will also start the season on the DL. Feldman has not looked sharp so far in camp. It would appear that neither Scott will be high on any team's "want list" by the trade deadline. The only advantage is that both are truly rent a players. The odds are low, around 10 percent, that one would be traded this year.
People still question why the Cubs re-signed Ian Stewart. Third base is thin, for sure. But Stewart had an injury bust 2012. And he came back into camp not fully healed; and then had a new injury that set back his playing time. If the Cubs signed Stewart as a player to be traded this season, it is now doubtful that Stewart will even make the opening day roster. The Cubs will probably cut him to avoid paying him his full contract sum.
The Cubs have several chips they wish to cash in on, but those players do not have very much trade value.
