Deadline buzz: Cubs eye Rays starters

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Updated: July 30, 2016

Many potential deals are in the works as the non-waiver Trade Deadline — Monday at 4 p.m. ET — approaches. Here is a look at the latest news, reports and rumors.

Cubs after a Rays starter? The Cubs could be targeting one of the Rays’ starting pitchers, according to multiple reports on Saturday.

ESPN’s Jim Bowden and the Tampa Bay Times’ Marc Topkin both reported that they’d heard the Cubs were “in pursuit” of a Rays starter, most likely left-hander Matt Moore or right-hander Jake Odorizzi.

Both Moore and Odorizzi have been linked to multiple teams in trade talks. On Friday, sources told Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan that Moore was the likeliest Rays pitcher to be dealt before Monday’s Deadline.

Odorizzi pitched Friday and beat the Yankees with 6 2/3 shutout innings. Topkin reported that at least 10 teams had scouts at Friday’s game — the Giants, Indians, Dodgers, White Sox, Royals, Blue Jays, Cubs, Marlins, Orioles and Rangers.

Mets make offer for Lucroy The Mets have made an offer to the Brewers for All-Star catcher Jonathan Lucroy, sources told Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal on Saturday. The Mets’ package is believed to be headlined by catcher Travis d’Arnaud, with outfielder Brandon Nimmo or a “comparable player” as the second piece, according to Rosenthal.

ESPN’s Buster Olney reported Saturday that the Mets and Brewers continued to engage in trade talks about Lucroy, whose team-friendly contract makes him an especially good fit.

Lucroy was not in the Brewers starting lineup for Saturday’s game against the Pirates.

Earlier in the week, the Mets’ discussions about Lucroy appeared to have stalled, but Rosenthal reported Thursday that the Brewers had “re-engaged” New York.

The Mets are not one of the eight teams on Lucroy’s no-trade list. ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick reported that the clubs to which Lucroy could block a trade are the Indians, Tigers, Angels, Twins, A’s, Padres, Mariners and Nationals.

Cleveland, as MLB Network Insider Jon Heyman reported on Thursday, had been considered one of the more likely potential landing places for Lucroy, along with Texas. The Tigers had also been linked to Lucroy, although Crasnick and Stark reported Friday that Detroit was no longer in the running.

Lucroy’s no-trade list does not mean that he would block a trade to Cleveland, a strong playoff contender. But Lucroy could use his ability to block a trade as leverage in negotiations, for example, to attempt to secure an extension.

Lucroy, 30, has been one of the best catchers in baseball this season, entering Saturday hitting .300 with 13 home runs and 50 RBIs in 93 games.

Rangers pursuing Quintana in addition to Sale, Archer Add Jose Quintana to the starting pitchers the Rangers are targeting.

The Rangers are looking for an impact starting pitcher through the trade market and have White Sox left-hander Chris Sale and Rays right-hander Chris Archer at the top of their wish list, MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan reported.

But Texas has spoken to the White Sox about the left-hander Quintana, too, sources told Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal on Saturday. The two sides have not gained any traction on Sale or Quintana, according to Rosenthal, because of “differences in perceived value.”

Both the White Sox and Rays are said to have steep asking prices and don’t appear motivated to trade their No. 1 starters. Many in the industry assume the White Sox could seek as many as five players in return for Sale, who is under club control through 2019 at a very reasonable rate ($12 million in 2017, plus a $12.5-million team option in 2018 and a $13.5 million team option in 2019).

Sale is a five-time All-Star who started this year’s game for the American League. The Sox reportedly want third baseman/outfielder Joey Gallo and outfielder Nomar Mazara from the Rangers, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. That, of course, would only be the start for a deal involving the lefty.

The …

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