MLB Trade Deadline Rumors: Greg Maddux
Maddux got off to a hot start in 2006, but has been below average since May. But, in what could be his last season, we could be see the future Hall of Famer receive a lot of interest from contending teams.
It is rumored that multiple teams have already contacted Cubs management in regards to Maddux, most notably the Dodgers, Yankees and Red Sox. Of the Cubs top starters, Zambrano is actually the only one who is considered "off the table'. The Cubs may want to move Kerry Wood and Mark Prior, but their history of injuries make them untradable becasue the Cubs are not going to "give them away".
Maddux is well respected within the Cubs organization and will only trade him to a certain team if Maddux gives the team his blessingto do so. Being that this could be Maddux's final season, he would be likely to okay a trade to a contender, but may prefer to go West, so he could very well end up with an AL or NL West club.
Neither Maddux, nor General Manager Jim Hendry have publicly indicated a trade is either eminent at the moment. Maddux currenlty has a 7-8 record, with an un-Madduxlike ERA of 5.00, so his trade value won't be what it would have been five years ago when he was pitching for the Atlanta Braves.
But in a league where most teams are iffy once you get past #1 and #2 in the rotaion, Maddux could definitaly be a difference maker down the streich becasue of his experience in pitching in big games.
John Onan (ego74) is co-owner of a popular sports and gambling forum, http://www.whalewager.com The forum offers up to the minute sports news, conversation, and free to enter handicapping contests
Source: www.ezinearticles.com
