Levine: Cubs Covet More Pitching, But Will They Deal Schwarber?

By Bruce Levine--

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Will he stay or will he go?

That's the question that Cubs executives Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer are being asked daily about second-year slugger Kyle Schwarber. Although Schwarber is out the rest of the year since suffering a gruesome knee injury during the first week of the regular season, numerous teams have inquired about his availability.

The one rumor that won't go away centers around the New York Yankees and Schwarber. Bullpen stalwarts Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller are coveted by many clubs as the non-wavier trading deadline fast approaches on Aug. 1. The Cubs would love to add a big bullpen arm like one of the Yankee lefties.

Both Epstein and Hoyer are on record as saying they like or even love their core players like Schwarber. That said, both executives have traded terrific young players for final pieces of teams in the past.

As the Red Sox general manager in November 2005, Hoyer dealt Hanley Ramirez to the Marlins for Josh Beckett in a seven-player swap in November of 2005. (Epstein was sitting out during that time because of a three-month contract dispute with ownership.) Down the road, that trade helped Boston win another World Series, while Ramirez became an All-Star shortstop with Miami.

In December 2010 while with the Red Sox, Epstein dealt Anthony Rizzo, then a young prospect, for Adrian Gonzalez in a deal with the Padres, for whom Hoyer served as general manager.

So the point is, these two Cubs bosses aren't afraid of trading talent for talent.

"He (Schwarber) knows how we feel about him," Hoyer said Tuesday. "I think this guy is an elite middle-of-the-order bat. He has the kind of makeup we look for. We kind of let that stand for itself. I don't want to comment on specific stuff. You all know how we feel about Kyle. We all miss seeing him in the lineup every day. We miss his left-handed power bat. We look forward to seeing that next year."

Hoyer and Epstein didn't say if that would be in Yankee pinstripes or not. These executives have some ice water running through their veins when it comes to adding or subtracting talent.

"We have said all along you can't have untouchables," Hoyer said. "You have to be willing to explore bold ideas. That said, we really like our core (of players) -- that is something we plan to build on."

Hoyer didn't discount the fact the Cubs would like to fortify the pitching staff. He also said a decision to add another starter wouldn't be disruptive. Even a six-man rotation could be broached, Hoyer said.

"I still think you can never have enough pitching," Hoyer said. "Whether we make a trade to address that, we will see. You have to assume you will need more pitching. The minute you don't, you get yourself in trouble. Guys pitch on more than four days rest more often than you think. With off days it is more times five days between starts. We do have some veteran guys but a six-man can work well with days off. There are complications with it."

Translation: Expect the Cubs to be going after both starting pitching and back-end bullpen studs.

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