Chicago Cubs Lose on Yu Darvish, Matt Garza to Toronto Blue Jays?

The Chicago Cubs were hopeful about Yu Darvish until the end of the bidding, won by the Texas Rangers.

But that was smokescreen. They were always thinking about a Matt Garza trade.

Which do you believe:

That Team Epstein was willing to hand $125+ million and the keys to his new franchise over to an unproven pitcher?

Or, that Hoyer & Co. were interested in driving up the bidding on Yu to make Matt Garza more attractive to losers of the Darvish derby?

Because the higher the bid on Darvish by Texas, Toronto and the Yanks, the better the odds the losers would overreact and trade the farm for Garza.

Truth is, the Cubs have been linked to the Padres and Rangers about potential deals involving their ace for the past week.

Now, the Toronto Blue Jays may have entered the bidding for a top-of-the-rotation starter to stay competitive against Texas and Los Angeles.

And Chicago would love to be overwhelmed by a trade proposal for Garza.

From Toronto. Or New York. Or San Diego. Or Boston. Or anyone.

Dear Team Epstein, fans approve. Even if it means we got our hopes up for Yu Darvish. This is what it means to play hardball with the big boys. 

Moving forward, it's still unknown whether Chicago intends to build around the 28-year-old Garza and compete in 2012, or wave the white flag and trade him, hoping for the best in 2013-14.

But once Yu and Texas work out a deal, Darvish will be a Ranger.

And the Cubs already have a new suitor for their best pitcher in the Blue Jays.

Question for Chicago fans: what do you think of prospects Anthony Gose (70 stolen bases at AA) and David Cooper (batting champ and .439 OBP at AAA in the Pacific Coast League)?

That's a lot of a speed and on-base percentage. (See for yourself. Here's footage of Gose in spring training and David Cooper in a PCL game in July.)

Toss in a pitcher and Matt may return to the AL East.

It's also no secret the Padres like Garza. Maybe enough to deal Anthony Rizzo.

The possibilities are endless.

Stay tuned on Twitter @JoshuaEdwards3