Chicago Cubs: Nobody Should Be Untouchable on This Roster

With Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer taking over this club, knowing that the path to consistent winning involves young players, there really should be no players on the current roster who are untouchable.

Yes, that even includes Starlin Castro, although I would want a king's ransom for him. So, in effect, he is the only player who is almost untouchable.

But if I were the Cubs brass, I would listen at least. But my main focus would be on players who may have value to other teams that are willing to move young pieces in return.

Some have questioned the Cubs' apparent willingness to consider trading Matt Garza. After all, he is relatively young and under the team's control for the next couple of seasons.

But the Cubs need so much help that you sometimes need to look at moving guys who can get you several prospects in return.

And one of those guys who would get you good young players is Garza.

Look, I like Garza and I would hate to see him go. But the Cubs are not going to win in 2012, and even though Garza is young enough to still be around when the team is ready to win, they need to consider trading him.

After all, the Cubs need help at several positions, and their farm system is barren.

Likewise, I would move Carlos Marmol in a heartbeat, although I would have done so before last season when he had much more value.

Now that he makes more money and is coming off of a bad season, he won't be worth as much. Still, you don't need a closer when you're not ready to win.

Plus, closers are so overrated. If he is healthy, Andrew Cashner could try his hand at closing, and so could Jeff Samardzija.

Sure, the Cubs want to keep butts in the seats, so they will try to fill in some positions with veterans, but if they could instead build through young players obtained through trades, that would excite me a lot more.

And no, I don't see them going after Prince Fielder. I know he is young enough to still be a middle of the order bat for years to come, I just don't think his body type will hold up.

Meanwhile, I hope that Jed and Theo move as many guys as possible and try to build through youth. Even if that means a couple more bad seasons, so what?

After all, "wait 'till next year" may eventually have some real meaning in Chicago at some point if we are patient.