SB Nation Chicago - MLB Trade Rumors: Geovany Soto, Reed Johnson, Paul Maholm Sent Packing Monday Night

Ryan Dempster Rumors: Yankees Denying Interest In Cubs Pitcher, According To Report

2012-07-31T14:38:44Z

Early on Tuesday morning -- the day where the non-waiver trade deadline will pass -- David Kaplan of CSN-Chicago posted reported that the Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers and New York Yankees are the leading suitors for Chicago Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster. Shortly after Kaplan claimed the "New York Yankees have stepped up their pursuit over the last 48 hours," Jason Stark of ESPN tweeted a message that cast doubt on that assertion.

Here is what Stark had to say:

#Yankees telling teams that contrary to reports in Chicago they're not in on Ryan Dempster
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) July 31, 2012

The Yankees telling teams they aren't in on a Dempster trade is still different than not actually being in trade talks (this is smoke screen season, after all), but it does appear the market is shrinking as the deadline approaches. In other news, the Dodgers are reportedly close to acquiring outfielder Shane Victorino, which would all but eliminate the possibility of a package deal for Alfonso Soriano and Dempster.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more comprehensive coverage, visit Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more MLB coverage, check out Baseball Nation as well as MLB Daily Dish.

Cubs Rumors: Ryan Dempster Courted By Dodgers, Yankees And Rangers As Deadline Approaches

2012-07-31T14:14:52Z

The Chicago Cubs really started wheeling and dealing on Monday night, but as of Tuesday morning veteran pitchers Ryan Dempster and Matt Garza are still on the roster and more big moves could be coming before the non-waiver trade deadline passes. To recap Monday's moves, the Cubs sent pitcher Paul Maholm and outfielder Reed Johnson to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for pitchers Jaye Chapman and Arodys Vizcaino, and they also traded catcher Geovany Soto to the Texas Rangers for 24-year old right-handed pitcher Jacob Brigham.

David Kaplan of CSN-Chicago posted his intel on Tuesday morning for what might be next regarding Dempster, and it appears the Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers and New York Yankees are the leading suitors for the 35-year-old hurler. Here is what Kaplan's sources had to say:

"Texas is serious about adding a starter and Dempster isn't as expensive to trade for as Garza would be, but after finishing as runners-up in the last two World Series and seeing the Angels add Zach Greinke, Texas management has decided to make a run at adding pitching, a baseball source told me. "However, with three teams seriously involved, it won't be cheap to acquire him even though it is potentially a three-month rental."

"Dempster has made it clear to Cubs management that he would like to play in Los Angeles but he also understands that Epstein and Hoyer have a job to do and he will not stand in their way if it means that the best deal is somewhere else," a source with knowledge of the discussions told me this morning.

With only hours left until the non-waiver trade deadline passes, the Cubs may take trade talks down to the wire to get the best deal.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more comprehensive coverage, visitCubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more MLB coverage, check out Baseball Nation as well as MLB Daily Dish.

Chicago Cubs Receive Pitchers Jaye Chapman, Arodys Vizcaino From Atlanta Braves For Paul Maholm, Reed Johnson

2012-07-31T04:08:52Z

On Monday night, the Chicago Cubs sent pitcher Paul Maholm and Reed Johnson to the Atlanta Braves. Now we know what the Cubs are getting in return for the two veterans. Chicago will receive pitchers Jaye Chapman and Arodys Vizcaino.

Chapman is a 25-year old right handed pitcher with a 3.52 ERA for Triple-A Gwinnett. He is 3-6 this season with 60 strikeouts over 53.1 innings. He is considered to be a back-end of the bullpen arm. According to Jerry Crasnick, he throws in the low 90s and has an above average changeup.

Vizcaino, the other player the sent back to Chicago, is a 21-year old who had missed the entire season after having Tommy John Surgery in spring training.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more comprehensive coverage, visit Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more MLB coverage, check out Baseball Nation as well as MLB Daily Dish.

Chicago Cubs Trade Paul Maholm, Reed Johnson To Atlanta Braves, According To Report

2012-07-31T03:18:33Z

Catcher Geovany Soto isn't the only member of the Chicago Cubs who was sent packing on Monday night. According to a report, the Cubs have reached an agreement sending starter Paul Maholm and outfielder Reed Johnson to the Atlanta Braves.

Maholm, a 30-year old left-handed pitcher, has been one of the Cubs' most dependable starters this season. He will leave the North Side with a 9-6 record, 3.74 ERA and 1.24 WHIP.

Johnson, a 35-year old utility outifielder, was batting .302 with .355 on-base percentage and three home runs for Chicago in 169 at-bats this season.

The Cubs and Braves were previously reported to reach a deal sending starter Ryan Dempster to Atlanta for highly touted pitcher Randall Delgado. According to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick, the Cubs will not be getting back Delgado in the trade for Maholm and Johnson.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more comprehensive coverage, visit Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more MLB coverage, check out Baseball Nation as well as MLB Daily Dish.

Chicago Cubs Trade Geovany Soto To Texas Rangers For Jacob Brigham

2012-07-31T03:06:46Z

The Chicago Cubs have made it clear they're ready to wheel-and-deal, but it isn't starter Ryan Dempster who is headed out of town as of Monday night. Instead, the Cubs have traded catcher Geovany Soto to the Texas Rangers for 24-year old right-handed pitcher Jacob Brigham, according to a report.

Soto Soto is hitting just .195/.278/.345 this season with six homers and 14 RBI. The catcher enjoyed a breakout season in 2008 when he hit .285/.364/.504 with 23 homers and 86 RBI.

Brigham was drafted in the sixth round by the Rangers in the 2006 MLB Draft as a high school player out of Florida. He is 6-foot-3, 210 lbs.

Soto was seen hugging teammates during the Cubs' win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday, prompting speculation that he had been traded.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more comprehensive coverage, visit Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more MLB coverage, check out Baseball Nation as well as MLB Daily Dish.

Ryan Dempster Is Scheduled To Start For The Chicago Cubs On Tuesday If He Isn't Traded

2012-07-31T01:23:46Z

The Chicago Cubs nearly traded veteran starter Ryan Dempster to the Atlanta Braves last week before the deal allegedly fell apart due to the veteran righty's preference on landing in Los Angeles. If the Cubs and the Dodgers are to work out a deal, it will have to be before Tuesday's 3:00 p.m. non-waiver trade deadline. If Dempster remains in Chicago, he's scheduled to start for the Cubs against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field on Tuesday.

Dempster said on Monday that he harbors zero animosity towards the organization for how the situation has played out.

"They’ve got a job to do. They're trying to do what's best for the Chicago Cubs and I understand that. They’ve been honest with me, it seems like. I'm just trying to do what I can to continue to do my job as a player, and that's to get ready to pitch."

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more comprehensive coverage, visit Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more MLB coverage, check out Baseball Nation as well as MLB Daily Dish.

Ryan Dempster Trade Rumors: Cubs, Dodgers Divided On 'Quality Of Prospects'

2012-07-30T20:23:44Z

The latest news from the MLB trade rumors front suggests the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers are still working on a trade for SP Ryan Dempster, but the teams appear divided on Dodgers' side of the trade:

Source: #Cubs "trying to bend over backwards" to get Dempster to #Dodgers, his desired team. Talks continue.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 30, 2012

Holdup in Dempster talks remains quality of prospects #Cubs would receive from #Dodgers. Want actual talent back.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 30, 2012

Part of the problem is that the Dodgers have reportedly taken a number of highly-touted prospect off the table:

Heard that Zach Lee, Allen Webster and Chris Reed are all off the table in any Dempster talks.
— Kevin Goldstein (@Kevin_Goldstein) July 30, 2012

Dempster, 35, is in the final year of his contract with the Chicago Cubs and has reportedly already vetoed a trade to the Atlanta Braves, using his veteran 10-and-5 rights.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more comprehensive coverage, visit Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more MLB coverage, check out Baseball Nation as well as MLB Daily Dish.

Ryan Dempster Trade Rumors: Nationals Interested In Dempster, Marlins Unlikely To Move Josh Johnson

2012-07-30T19:00:23Z

The latest update from EPSN's Jayson Stark suggests not only are the Washington Nationals in the market for SP Ryan Dempster, but that the Chicago Cubs should have one less seller to compete with on the market. The Miami Marlins are reportedly pulling SP Josh Johnson from the trade deadline talks:

After all that Josh Johnson talk, the Marlins were telling teams Monday they're just going to keep their ace unless something unforeseen happens. ... So the Marlins are informing clubs they see more value in keeping Johnson, heading into his free-agent year, than trading him just to say they did.

The MLB trade market currently has three veteran starting pitchers left -- Dempster, Johnson and the Tampa Bay Rays' SP James Shields. With Johnson leaving the market, the Cubs should gain leverage in their discussions with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Nationals.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more comprehensive coverage, visit Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more MLB coverage, check out Baseball Nation as well as MLB Daily Dish.