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Matt Garza in action
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MESA, Ariz. -- Chicago Cubs starter Matt Garza wasn’t surprised to read this offseason that Boston had originally asked for him as compensation for president Theo Epstein when the former Red Sox general manager was allowed to leave his contract early.
“Why not?” Garza said Sunday before the opening workout. “He’s a great GM. He won two World Series over there in 8-9 years, so why not? Why not go after a starter where they lacked depth in, or go after (Starlin) Castro, a guy who’s 21 and already an All-Star, or a premier prospect in (Brett) Jackson?
“Why not see what you could get? I would’ve. I would’ve asked for the farm -- (I'd) say ‘I want this guy, this guy, this guy,’ and see what they grab.”
Was Garza at all worried he might be sent to Boston for Epstein?
“Like I’ve said before, if I got a phone call, that’s when I’d start packing,” he said. “I was settled, enjoying my offseason vacation, hanging out with my kids. It didn’t even cross my mind to try on a different hat.”
Asked what he knew about the way Epstein ran things in Boston, Garza grinned and replied: “I know that I was able to kick the crap out of him every year, year-in and year-out for the last few seasons. That’s what I learned.”
Garza is 7-4 with a 3.83 earned-run average in 19 games (18 starts) against Boston, and 2-0 in the 2008 American League Championship Series with the Rays, earning ALCS MVP honors.
“The ballclubs he built were always good,” Garza said of Epstein, pointing to farm system products Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury and Kevin Youkilis. “That’s how you keep a championship caliber ballclub, bringing people through the farm. The Yankees learned it late. They were able to go out and do what they do, but now they’re doing the same thing, running everything through the farm.
“If you look at the sleepers over there, Tampa, they’ve been doing it the last 10 seasons. They might have sucked for eight, but they can’t be stopped now. I looked at their roster this year and they’re unbelievable. And they’re all farmhands. That’s what baseball is turning into, (promoting) farmhands… I think it’s awesome. I think the route we’re (taking) Is awesome. It’s time for it, and it’s exciting to go out and see how it’s going to take place.”
Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said Saturday the Cubs would be open to talks on extending Garza, who is signed through 2013. Garza spent the whole offseason hearing that he might be traded, and said Sunday that any negotiations with the Cubs will be “between me, my agent and the front office,” declining to discuss the issue.
“I love playing baseball,” he said. “I’ll play anywhere. But the city of Chicago is one great city, I’ll tell you that. And playing in front of these fans? I had a great time last year and plan on having more fun this year… I’d love to be a part of the future. That would be awesome. But if it’s better for the club, they’re going to obviously, as we’ve seen, make the best decision possible for the club.”
psullivan@tribune.com
“Why not?” Garza said Sunday before the opening workout. “He’s a great GM. He won two World Series over there in 8-9 years, so why not? Why not go after a starter where they lacked depth in, or go after (Starlin) Castro, a guy who’s 21 and already an All-Star, or a premier prospect in (Brett) Jackson?
“Why not see what you could get? I would’ve. I would’ve asked for the farm -- (I'd) say ‘I want this guy, this guy, this guy,’ and see what they grab.”
Was Garza at all worried he might be sent to Boston for Epstein?
“Like I’ve said before, if I got a phone call, that’s when I’d start packing,” he said. “I was settled, enjoying my offseason vacation, hanging out with my kids. It didn’t even cross my mind to try on a different hat.”
Asked what he knew about the way Epstein ran things in Boston, Garza grinned and replied: “I know that I was able to kick the crap out of him every year, year-in and year-out for the last few seasons. That’s what I learned.”
Garza is 7-4 with a 3.83 earned-run average in 19 games (18 starts) against Boston, and 2-0 in the 2008 American League Championship Series with the Rays, earning ALCS MVP honors.
“The ballclubs he built were always good,” Garza said of Epstein, pointing to farm system products Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury and Kevin Youkilis. “That’s how you keep a championship caliber ballclub, bringing people through the farm. The Yankees learned it late. They were able to go out and do what they do, but now they’re doing the same thing, running everything through the farm.
“If you look at the sleepers over there, Tampa, they’ve been doing it the last 10 seasons. They might have sucked for eight, but they can’t be stopped now. I looked at their roster this year and they’re unbelievable. And they’re all farmhands. That’s what baseball is turning into, (promoting) farmhands… I think it’s awesome. I think the route we’re (taking) Is awesome. It’s time for it, and it’s exciting to go out and see how it’s going to take place.”
Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said Saturday the Cubs would be open to talks on extending Garza, who is signed through 2013. Garza spent the whole offseason hearing that he might be traded, and said Sunday that any negotiations with the Cubs will be “between me, my agent and the front office,” declining to discuss the issue.
“I love playing baseball,” he said. “I’ll play anywhere. But the city of Chicago is one great city, I’ll tell you that. And playing in front of these fans? I had a great time last year and plan on having more fun this year… I’d love to be a part of the future. That would be awesome. But if it’s better for the club, they’re going to obviously, as we’ve seen, make the best decision possible for the club.”
psullivan@tribune.com
