MLB Rumors: Toronto Blue Jays Should Pursue Chicago Cubs' Matt Garza

About a month ago, I wrote a piece outlining potential trades for starting pitchers that the Toronto Blue Jays should consider.

Among the possibilities was Ryan Dempster of the Chicago Cubs, as it appeared that the Cubs were interested in keeping staff-ace Matt Garza.

I also discussed why the Cubs and Jays would make great trading partners, seeing as the Cubs have a desperate organizational need for pitching and outfield help, while the Jays' farm system is stocked to the brim with those exact pieces.

Fast forward to June, and it now it appears as though the situation in Chicago has changed dramatically, with Bob Nightengale of USA Today reporting that the Cubs are making it known to the rest of the league that everyone on their roster, with the exception of young starter Jeff Samardzija, is available for the right price.

That alone should be enough to pique the interest of the Toronto Blue Jays and their fans, seeing as the Cubs have exactly what they need—veteran starting pitching to solidify the rotation—and vice versa.

If that isn't enough, however, we now have a report that was released just two days ago from FOX Sports baseball insider Ken Rosenthal, saying a rival executive has heard rumblings that the Jays are very interested in Garza.

If these rumors are true, this kind of move would be a step in the right direction for both organizations.

Toronto acquiring Garza would allow them to bolster their starting rotation by removing the young Kyle Drabek and allowing him to focus on regaining his early season form, where he had drastically improved his walk rate.

It would also add a top-of-the-rotation-type arm that would complement the likes of Ricky Romero and Brandon Morrow very well, and allow the Jays to push the softer-throwing Henderson Alvarez and Drew Hutchison down to the four and five spots of the rotation where they probably belong as of now.

For Chicago, they would probably demand at least two of the Jays' top-10 prospects in any sort of deal for Garza.

Despite some rumors floating around that the Cubs would demand Travis D'Arnaud in any trade involving Garza, those are misinformed and Jays fans need not worry.

Chicago has a future catcher in Wellington Castillo and a future first baseman in Anthony Rizzo. And while D'Arnaud may be a step up, it's likely that Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer will be more focused on addressing their needs in the outfield and on the mound.

While the Cubs just drafted the ever-so-promising Albert Almora, and have Brett Jackson on the cusp of breaking into the major leagues, Chicago's only other promising outfield prospect is Matt Szczur.

Bringing in a Jake Marisnick or even Moises Sierra would be a great help to the Cubs' organization.

The other piece returning to Chicago would have to be a pitcher—and a good one at that.

Whether it be someone who is major league ready, like Hutchison or Drabek, or a prospect with an extremely high ceiling, like an Aaron Sanchez, Noah Syndergaard, Justin Nicolino, or Daniel Norris, is up to the Cubs' management.

At this point I would suspect that if the Blue Jays were serious about acquiring Matt Garza, they'd have to be willing to give up Marisnick and Syndergaard as the bare minimum.

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