The Chicago Cubs own the worst record in Major League Baseball nearly half way through the season, so predictably the trade rumors have been heating up in recent weeks. Ryan Dempster had been at the forefront of discussions prior to his trip to the disabled list, and Matt Garza is still the most likely to go, but now there is another name to throw in the mix.
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports wrote in his Monday column that the Cubs have received frequent inquiries about the availability of Barney, and they he could be moved if they can get back value commensurate to a starting second baseman:
Don't rule out the possibility of the Cubs trading second baseman Darwin Barney. Rival clubs frequently ask about Barney, but none has offered value that the Cubs consider sufficient for a regular second baseman. Barney might end up more of a utility type.
Barney is 26 years old, will be arbitration eligible in 2014 and won't his the free agent market until 2017, so some team may step up to grab a marginally productive MLB player under team control for the foreseeable future. Barney is a lifetime .271/.313/.358 hitter over his three seasons in the MLB, spanning 906 plate appearances. His ability to play multiple infield positions and plus-defensive ability is where most of the value resides.
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