Just got off the phone with Dave Kaplan, host of Sports Central on WGN Radio 720 out of Chicago. He gave me the latest on where the Cubs stand with Barry Zito.
Billy Beane is not sure whether he’ll deal Zito now or in July. However, the teams have had discussions recently, and the A’s like the Cubs’ farm system quite a bit. A deal for several of the Cubs’ young arms is a distinct possibility. The A’s aren’t looking for Matt Murton in the trade, but rather pitchers like Rich Hill, Angel Guzman, and Sean Marshall. There’s been plenty of debate on this site about Rich Hill’s future in the Major Leagues, but it’s a fact that many teams absolutely love him and are trying to pry him away from the Cubs. Hill has a ton of trade value. Anyway, sit tight on the Zito idea; nothing’s going down today.
Kaplan also mentioned that the Tejada trade is "not dead" for the Cubs. I don’t know which names are currently being tossed around, but rest assured the Cubs still have a chance at acquiring him.
