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Levine: On Playoff Pace, Cubs Search For Right Trade, Internal Improvement

By Bruce Levine--

CHICAGO (CBS) -- At the half way point of the 2015 baseball team, the Cubs must be considered more than just one of those surprise teams that come around every so often. With a 44-37 start, Chicago is on pace to win 88 games, which would be its best finish since 2008. The pace and the team's place in the standings -- sitting in the second NL wild-card spot by 2.5 games entering Tuesday -- give real hope to the fan base and front office of a meaningful playoff run.

The jockey who's riding the Cubs' entry in this horse race, Joe Maddon has handled his club beautifully throughout his first 81 games as manager in Chicago. Maddon has been without question the manager of the year in the National League at the halfway point.

Yet the 60-year-old Maddon believes the team must play a tad better in the second half in order to seal a playoff berth.

"Every thing feels right," Maddon said about his team's chances. "It definitely feels right. It feels like we haven't hit our real stride yet. I believe we are battling through every game, which we love. We really have not played as good as we are capable of. I like that (playoff chance), considering we have not played our best ball to this point and we are in this position. So I am less concerned we have not gotten there yet."

Maddon isn't counting on a trade to help the playoff push in the second half. The Cubs are looking to add a veteran starting pitcher and a couple of position player types who have been through the baseball rigors before to strengthen their bench, sources confirmed.

The Cubs are also confident their young group of position players will continue to mature and be more productive over the last portion of the campaign.

"There is a lot to look forward to," Maddon said. "I really do anticipate as we get deeper and with good health, you will see a lot of these young guys really start to figure this out. This will give us better play in August and September. Right now, it's about not beating them all up, keeping them well. Again, I don't think we have played our best baseball yet."

The trade market is a seller's delight right now. For as many as 22 of the 30 clubs, a case can be made for being interested in adding players before the non-waiver trading deadline on July 31. The Cubs will be searching for a middle-of-the-rotation type who perhaps once was more of an ace but has less value now, for whatever reason.

Names like Oakland's Scott Kazmir (5-5, 2.56 ERA) and Dan Haren (6-5, 3.45 ERA) should be on the radar of Cubs fans.

"Pitching wise, we are always looking out to improve that," Maddon said. "Absolutely, that could make a big difference. I don't anticipate that happening. I work from the premise it's going to look like this."

The Cubs front office has declared they are working hard on additions, but mortgaging the future isn't part of the thought process Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer.

"We have been given word the Cubs are not ready to trade off their really good young guys at this point," an AL scout who's evaluated the Cubs said. "They want a decent starter who won't scare in big games this fall. They have good talent, even in the lower levels (of the farm system that) teams will look to get back."

A super utility man like Oakland's Ben Zobrist would be the perfect addition to the Cubs. With such an addition, they could rest valuable players toward the end of the season while not losing firepower.

Ten clubs are said to be interested in Zobrist. Oakland boss Billy Beane will manipulate the marketplace going down to the wire on the deadline with Kazmir and Zobrist.

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.

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