Shrugging off trade rumors is Matt Garzas default setting. The Cubs are at a point in their rebuilding process where almost no player is untouchable. The speculation will probably never go away until hes wearing another uniform.
Garzawhos eligible for arbitration the next two seasonsdidnt settle with the Cubs by Tuesdays deadline to exchange salary figures. CBSSports.com reported that Garzas camp filed at 10.225 million, while the Cubs countered at 7.95 million.
After a blockbuster trade with Tampa Bay last year, Garza made 5.95 million during his first season on the North Side and went 10-10 with a 3.32 ERA and 197 strikeouts in 198 innings.
The Cubs did agree to terms with their six other arbitration-eligible players: catcher Geovany Soto (4.3 million); pitchers Randy Wells (2.705 million) and Chris Volstad (2.655 million); and infielders Ian Stewart (2.2375 million), Jeff Baker (1.375 million) and Blake DeWitt (1.1 million).
At the age of 28, Garzas career profile has often been compared to that of John Danks, who agreed to a five-year, 65 million extension with the White Sox last month. Danks will get 8 million this season, then 14.25 million annually through 2016.
The circumstances arent exactly the same: Danks is left-handed, had only one season of arbitration eligibility remaining and will turn 27 in April. Hes also spent the past five years in the White Sox clubhouse.
But otherwise the career numbers for Garza (52-54, 3.83 ERA, 1.303 WHIP) and Danks (54-56, 4.03 ERA, 1.304 WHIP) are remarkably similar. Each has already logged around 920 innings in the majors.
MLB
Arbitration hearings are scheduled to take place sometime between Feb. 1 and Feb. 21, though it usually doesnt get to that point. Theo Epstein has repeatedly mentioned the possibility of a contract extension as a way to turn a short-term asset into a long-term one.
But the Cubs president of baseball operations is also willing to listen if a team built to win now wants a proven big-game pitcher to put them over the top. Garza isnt bothered by all the chatter.
Its fine with me, Garza said last week. Its been a business. Its always going to be a business and if things happen, they happen. But Im happy where Im at. And right now Im a Chicago Cub and Ill be pitching in Wrigley come April.