Prediction: Matusz and Arrieta will be traded before July 31st.

[Rene88]

Ds

Would you trade Arrieta for Youkilis?

I hope you are joking!

[RayC]

Ds

I hope you are joking!

Not necessarily straight up, but with others thrown in to improve the deal.

[El Gordo]

Not necessarily straight up, but with others thrown in to improve the deal.

Yeah sure if those others are Lester and Middlebrooks.

[Dark Helmet]

I would rather keep Matusz. Even when Matusz struggles, it seems like its bloopers hurting him. With Arrieta, the balls come off the bat hard.

That said, id trade either one for Gaza, and not lose any sleep. Garza is only 28, and has had success in the AL east. Id lock him up to a 5 year deal over the offseason.

[EagleOriole]

Would you trade Arrieta for Youkilis?

No. I would trade Arrieta for Middlebrooks.

[Can_of_corn]

No. I would trade Arrieta for Middlebrooks.

28 other teams would trade for Arrieta just so they could trade him for Middlebrooks.

[EagleOriole]

28 other teams would trade for Arrieta just so they could trade him for Middlebrooks.

Well of course.

[Flacco Machado]

So does this supersede your "Matusz will be our #1 starter by the end of the year" prediction?

Unfortunately, yes. I like Matusz a lot. Arrieta not so much. Again, I think both would be great in the NL.

[The Maestro]

I'm a bit leery of parting ways with either. I'm still hoping they both "get it" and reduce the need to go out and trade for another starter. Guess it's the orangle tinted glasses.

[CheeryO]

If you had said Matusz OR Arrieta would be traded by July 31, well then ... maybe. Both? Even if the O's were getting back Zach Greinke I can't see them trading both of them.

[Flacco Machado]

Would anyone do this trade?

Cubs get:

Brian Matusz

Johnathan Schoop

Ryan Flaherty

Orioles get:

Matt Garza

Alfonso Soriano

P.S. Took out LaHair after further thought.

[MrOrange82]

Would anyone do this trade?

Cubs get:

Brian Matusz

Johnathan Schoop

Ryan Flaherty

Orioles get:

Matt Garza

Alfonso Soriano

Bryan LaHair

Depends on the cash going back/forth. I don't think the Cubs would be at-all interested unless the O's took the vast majority of the salary involved.

[Flacco Machado]

Depends on the cash going back/forth. I don't think the Cubs would be at-all interested unless the O's took the vast majority of the salary involved.

What if we threw in, say, Double-A pitcher, Mike Wright?

[Flacco Machado]

Depends on the cash going back/forth. I don't think the Cubs would be at-all interested unless the O's took the vast majority of the salary involved.

Taking on Soriano's contract would be a HUGE factor, in any deal with the Cubbies. Yes, you are dead on, in that regard.

[scottbbfm]

Taking on Soriano's contract would be a HUGE factor, in any deal with the Cubbies. Yes, you are dead on, in that regard.

Cubs have a ton of money-they have a preference for prospects over salary relief.