Via Bruce Levine at ESPN Chicago, the Cubs have made inquiries about Tampa Bay Rays righthander Matt Garza, who is arbitration eligible.
Garza made $3.5 million last year and would likely be up for a raise to about double that amount in arbitration. Still, that would make him affordable to the Cubs if they could move some of Kosuke Fukudome’s salary. The Cubs, according to Levine, also discussed the possibility of dealing lefty Tom Gorzelanny to the Tigers, possibly for Armando Galarraga. If that deal didn’t happen, Gorzelanny could perhaps be included in a Garza deal along with other prospects.
Garza threw a no-hitter last year for the Rays and Galarraga, of course, had the famous “imperfect game” that was ruined by a bad call from umpire Jim Joyce.
If Garza is acquired he’d be reunited with his Tampa teammate Carlos Pena, who the Cubs just signed. According to a tweet from the Chicago Sun-Times’ Gordon Wittenmyer, some of Pena’s $10 million contract is being deferred.