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Cubs Will Consider Offers For Almost Every Player
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [May 31, 2012 at 6:31pm CST]
6:31pm: Castro is "first on the list of players [the Cubs] won't trade,"
according to a team that recently spoke to the Cubs, reports Danny Knobler of
CBS Sports. Knobler also says the Cubs have told teams that they will cover
as much as $45MM of the approximately $48MM remaining on Soriano's contract
if the outfielder is moved (Twitter link). At least one team has already
expressed interest in Dempster, tweets ESPN's Buster Olney.
1:45pm: The Cubs are letting teams know that nearly every player except Jeff
Samardzija is available in trades, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports. Some
teams are already calling the 18-32 Cubs about potential deals.
"We're starting to get some early calls now," president of baseball
operations Theo Epstein told Nightengale. "There might be fewer sellers than
usual and a lot more buyers. This has a chance to help us. We need core
players."
Starlin Castro could be obtained for two impact prospects, according to
Nightengale. First baseman Bryan LaHair and starters Matt Garza and Ryan
Dempster could also be acquired. The Cubs will contribute cash in a deal
involving Alfonso Soriano, who earns $18MM per season through 2014.
Though Epstein's longtime team, the Red Sox, hasn't been a seller for years,
Chicago GM Jed Hoyer was trading Major Leaguers for prospects as recently as
last summer. He acquired Joe Wieland and Robbie Erlin from the Rangers for
Mike Adams in 2011 when he was the Padres' GM.