Matt Garza Will Likely be Dealt After Disagreement on Extension with Chicago Cubs

Jul 13, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher

(22) throws a pitch during the seventh inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field. The Cubs won 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

According to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, Chicago Cubs pitcher, Matt Garza, will most likely be traded to a contender after contract negotiations went south this week. The Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians, and Boston Red Sox are the front runners for his services.

Contract negotiations seem at a stalemate as Garza and Cubs officials disagree on the average annual value of the deal. Currently, Garza is pitching to a 3.17 ERA (3.79 FIP) with 7.86 K/9 and 2.54 BB/9 ratios, so the peripherals are in line with a top-of-the-rotation guy. His 6-1 record with a subpar Cubs team is also attractive.

The Rangers recently put their ace, Yu Darvish on the disabled list with a shoulder injury along with seven other pitchers with various ailments, so their interest is obvious. The Indians, meanwhile, need another pitcher to help round out their rotation, as they are trailing the Tigers by only one game in the AL Central, but are three games back in the Wild Card. The Red Sox might make a splash for Garza depending on the prognosis for Clay Buchholz, who suffered inflammation in the bursa sac of his right shoulder. Buchholz’s status is unknown, but he might start a rehab stint in the coming week.

At any rate, whichever team picks up Garza will have a proven winner as he was a key cog on the AL Pennant-winning Tampa Bay Rays back in 2008. Since leaving the club after 2010, he has amassed a 21-18 record in two-and-half years with a rebuilding Cubs organization, but has had trouble staying off the DL.