Chicago Cubs: Guys That Might Help Out the Bullpen

So far, the bullpen seems able to corral right-handed hitters in the late innings of close games. Marmol, Guzman, Ascanio, are especially tough in the seventh-ninth. But aside from Marmol and Guzman, nobody else seems to be able to get right-handers out (Gregg and Heilman have been poor against both sides this year, Waddell is unproven, etc).

Let's see who might help and might be available on the trade market:

1. George Sherrill, Orioles

Might not like being a lefty-on-lefty specialist as this is a guy making set-up/closer money, but he's pretty tough on lefties.  

Possible problems:  Player attitude. Expensive.

2. Scott Schoenweis, Mets

Possible problems: Mets still in contention, but might be more willing to part with Schoenweis than Pedro Feliciano.

3. Arthur Rhodes, Reds

Possible problems: Cinci is unlikely to trade within the division while they're still in contention.

4. Ron Mahay, Royals

Possible problems:  Having a down year, even against lefties. Expensive.

5. John Grabow, Pirates

Possible problems: Having a down year, even against lefties.

6. Brian Shouse, Tampa Bay

Possible problems: Tampa Bay does have problems to fix if they're going to turn it around in the AL East, but trading away a reliever for prospects is probably the lowest on their list of trade priorities.

7. Joe Beimel, Nats

Possible problems: None. Washington isn't going anywhere any time soon, Beimel is affordable, and I said all winter this guy would have been a great lefty-on-lefty guy that could have been had cheap.

Him, Brian Shouse OR Dennys Reyes (though next-to-impossible St. Louis trades Reyes OR Trevor Miller while they're in contention, especially within the division...)

****Wild Card is our own DAVID PATTON. 

While he's currently in Piniella's doghouse and barely even gets into mop-up situations any more,  his splits are much better against lefties than righties even though he's a right-handed reliever.

Sure, it's a small sample size, but why not ride it out and see if it's for real? Get him into games only when there's a few left-handers in a row and see what he can do. Maybe he's a reverse version of Atlanta's Mike Gonzalez (a lefty that's murder on right-handers, but gets knocked around by right-handers...).