Today a reporter from the Chicago Sun-Times related that both the Braves and Nationals have inquired about trading for centerfielder Marlon Byrd. He's under contract this year for $6.5 million but will be a free agent after this season. I doubt the Cubs' brass will be able to get much for Byrd, who is a decent third/fourth outfielder for a club.
However, when he gets dealt this season--and there's really no if related to that prospect--it should be interesting. Do they deal him now and plug in Campana, Mather, and Johnson while Brett Jackson waits to get called up? Or it's possible they wait a while to ship out Byrd, who seems like a stand-up guy by all accounts, later in the season if a contending club is more desperate due to injuries and/or underachievement. They're not going to get much for Byrd right now, I think, so I suspect they'll take their time.
Interestingly, the two teams that have inquired about Byrd is telling. Both of these NL East teams sense significant weakness from the Phillies with Utley having knee problems and Howard still out with his injury.
But back to the Cubs.
I wrote about the team's possible 2012 starting lineup previously.
But here's what I think it'll look like at the end of the season:
Starting Lineup:
1. Brett Jackson (CF)
2. David DeJesus (RF)
3. Starlin Castro (SS)
4. Anthony Rizzo (1B)
5. Geovany Soto (C)
6. Ian Stewart (3B)
7. Alfonso Soriano (LF)
8. Darwin Barney (2B)
Starting Rotation:
1. Matt Garza
2. Ryan Dempster
3. Paul Maholm
4. Chris Volstad
5. Jeff Samardzija
Bullpen:
Closer: Kerry Wood
Set-Up Man: Some Dude
Set-Up Man: Some Dude
The two players who I'm tempted to take out of the lineup are Soriano and Garza. The Cubs openly fielded offers for Garza in the off-season, so it's a strong possibility they'll deal him if the prospects they get in return are worth it.
As for Soriano, they obviously want to deal that albatross of a contract, but whether he leaves depends on how much the organization is willing to eat of the crazy-ass contract that clown Hendry inked him to.
I'm also thinking the Cubs deal Marmol.
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