The Chicago Sun-Times says the Cubs are ready to strike while the iron is hot, looking to deal starting pitcher Ted Lilly after a stellar 7.1-inning effort in which he held Houston to one run.
The struggling New York Mets have shown the most interest in Lilly. The Detroit Tigers are also believed to be shifting their attention to Lilly after hitting a wall in their talks with the Arizona Diamondbacks centering on Haren. Scouts from several contenders, including the Mets, Tigers, Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Dodgers, were at Wrigley Field on Wednesday for Lilly’s start against right-hander Brett Myers, who is being shopped by the Astros. Myers has also drawn interest from the Mets.
Lilly would give the Mets three lefties in their rotation, and allow beleaguered manager Jerry Manuel to move Hisanori Takahashi to the bullpen.
Lilly might upgrade the rotation, but he can’t hit and that has been the Mets’ biggest problem of late.