The Cubs have agreed to acquire right-handed pitcher Matt Garza from the Tampa Bay Rays for a package of prospects on Friday. The Cubs will send Chris Archer, Brandon Guyer, Robinson Chirinos, Hak Ju-Lee and Sam Fuld to the Rays for Garza and a minor-league pitcher and a minor-league outfielder, according to Bruce Levine.
Garza is only 27, so he is a young pitcher who will be under club control for three years. So why would the Rays trade him? For one, they are trading from a position of strength. They already have a solid rotation penciled in for 2011.
Further, the Rays are in cost-cutting move and Garza is arbitration eligible. He earned $3.35 million last season and stands to earn around $6 million in 2011.
Plus, the haul for the Rays is terrific. They obtain arguably the Cubs' top pitching prospect in Archer, whose ceiling is that of a No. 2 or No. 3 starter in the MLB, and a potential star in shortstop Hak Ju-Lee, who is only 20 and a defensive whiz with speed and an offense that may not be powerful, but should be effective.
The fact that the Cubs were able to make this trade without giving up Starlin Castro, Tyler Colvin or Andre Casher is somewhat of a coup for GM Jim Hendry. Still, this trade really strips the Cubs system bare.
Let's take a look at this trade from multiple angles, see why it was made and what it means going forward.
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