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The Bernstein Brief: Cubs Will Add A Pitcher Soon

By Dan Bernstein--
CBSChicago.com senior columnist

(CBS) A trade for another veteran starting pitcher is next up for the Cubs, and Theo Epstein said so Monday.

"We're not hiding the ball," he told reporters before Chicago beat the Los Angeles Dodgers.  "That's one area right now where we kind of have a short stack and need to address it before it becomes a problem."

This has been an ongoing effort for some time now, with sources telling 670 The Score that Epstein and the Cubs have been busy working the phones in search of another arm and are encountering the expectedly high asking prices at this point in the developing market. Deadlines spur negotiation, but the Cubs would prefer to strike a deal earlier if possible, before possible targets are plucked by others and to allow their acquisition to provide greater value to them.

And this was all before Tsuyoshi Wada left the game with was was said to be shoulder cramps. So unlike last year at this time when they looked to be opportunistic sellers, the Cubs are in the race at 38-30 (good for the second NL wild card right now) and on the hunt for help.

Dan Bernstein is a co-host of 670 The Score's "Boers and Bernstein Show" in afternoon drive. Follow him on Twitter  @dan_bernstein and read more of his columns here.

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