Matt Garza Rumors: Cubs Asking Price “High”; Yankees “Essentially Not In”

Chicago Cubs right-hander Matt Garza has drawn significant interest on the trade market this offseason.  However, Garza may not wind up going anywhere this winter, as David Kaplan of CSNChicago.com hears Chicago’s asking price for the 28-year-old is “tremendously high”.  Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports the Cubs lofty asking price has the Yankees, one of five club currently tied to Garza, “essentially not in”.  Beyond the Yankees, the Marlins, Tigers, Blue Jays and Red Sox have all shown interest in Garza this offseason.

Cubs president Theo Epstein has said that he’d be willing to construct a future rotation around Garza.  But Epstein has also admitted that his club basically has to listen to any and all offers received.  Still, it doesn’t seem as if Epstein is feeling any pressure to trade Garza this winter.

This has led to an extremely high asking price, according to sources.  At this point, Kaplan hears that the teams interested in Garza are “seeing how high someone is willing to go” to acquire the right-hander.

Currently, one of those teams, the Yankees, isn’t willing to go as high as the Cubs would like.  Sherman reports that the Yankees had more interest in Athletics left-hander Gio Gonzalez than they do in Garza.  Their unwillingness to meet the A’s demands for Gonzalez tells Sherman that the Yankees are “essentially not in for Garza”.

A deal could certainly still get done, as it was reported yesterday that the Yankees are actively seeking a number two starting pitcher.  Garza would fit the mold, as he would slide in quite nicely behind Yankees ace C.C. Sabathia.  Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports also hears New York is “actively seeking” pitching help, but that they do not like any available options at their current prices.

For more on the Cubs and Yankees, be sure to check out Cubbies Crib and Yanks Go Yard.