Even though their lineup exploded for 44 runs in their final four games before the All-Star break, the Cubs are not about to sit still.
Cubs General Manager Andy MacPhail remains active in trade talks for an experienced bat. He stayed in Chicago to work the phones, sending top lieutenant Jim Hendry to the All-Star Game in Seattle.
“Andy is aware of what he sees, what we see,” Cubs manager Don Baylor said. “He’s making phone calls and inquiring about people.”
MacPhail declined to comment Monday on talk that the Cubs planned to package Triple-A right-hander Ruben Quevedo and infielder Jason Smith in a deal.
But there’s no denying that several players at Triple-A Iowa have been heavily scouted and are regarded as good trade bait.
Quevedo bombed in his debut with the Cubs last season, going 3-10 with a 7.47 earned-run average. But the extra year has done wonders for his repertoire.
Many scouts believe Quevedo is good enough to start in most big-league rotations. The 22-year-old had a superb first half, going 8-3 with a 2.52 ERA and leading Pacific Coast League pitchers in strikeouts with 130 in 121 2/3 innings.
There’s no room for Quevedo in the Cubs’ rotation. The Cubs’ five starters have combined to post a 3.87 ERA, and fifth starter Jason Bere is 2-0 with a 1.23 ERA in his last two outings.
Opposing teams are also believed to be looking at Iowa left-hander Nate Teut, who is 7-7 with a 4.89 ERA.
While the Cubs would like to boost their lineup, they are reluctant to part with a top prospect. So Corey Patterson, Hee Seop Choi, Juan Cruz, Carlos Zambrano and Ben Christensen are unlikely to go anywhere.
Smith, a shortstop, is hitting .233 for Iowa with four home runs. Zambrano is 6-2 with a 3.93 ERA at Iowa. Choi, a first baseman, has been hampered by a wrist injury this season and is hitting only .229.
Cruz is 7-2 at Double-A West Tenn with 98 strikeouts in 81 innings. Christensen is done for the year after shoulder surgery.
