Cubs to trade Jorge Soler for starting pitching?

by Tony Crumpton - Senior Editor - Jul 31, 2016, 2:45 PM

Monday's non-waiver Trade Deadline is only a day away, and the Cubs have already made significant moves with the additions of relievers Mike Montgomery and Aroldis Chapman to help the much-maligned bullpen.

However, the Cubs are still working the phones as they have called the Tampa Bay Rays about their stockpile of young starting pitchers according to multiple reports.

"So although they're clearly not finished shopping, rival teams say they've been asking about controllable starting pitchers," ESPN's Jayson Stark said. "So Jake Odorizzi and Matt Moore in Tampa Bay fit the profile of a team they could match up with."

The major league teams that will have scouts at the Rays-Yankees game on Sunday include the Angels, Blue Jays, Cubs, Dodgers, Giants, Indians, Marlins, Orioles, Rangers, and White Sox. Cubs scouts were also in attendance in previous games featuring the Rays-Yankees this weekend.

Jorge Soler was placed on the disabled list back in the beginning of June with a severe left hamstring strain and is currently on a rehab assignment at Double-AA Tennessee. The Cubs will have a surplus of reserve outfielders when Soler returns with Chris Coghlan and Matt Szczur (out of options).

24-year old Soler is batting .223 (29-for-130) with five doubles, five home runs, and 13 RBI in 50 games for the Cubs this season.