By Sean McAdam
CSNNE.com Red Sox InsiderFollow @sean_mcadam
If, as the Chicago Tribune reported, the Red Sox recently inquired about the availability of Chicago Cubs righthander Matt Garza, they likely didn't get the response for which they were hoping.
Asked about the likelihood of Garza being dealt to Boston (or anywhere else) by the July 31 deadline, a baseball source familiar with the Cubs' thinking said:
"Nothing (to it). Who needs major league pitching more than (the Cubs) do?
The source added the Cubs "are already short two starters.
Garza was obtained from Tampa Bay last offseason as the Rays slashed payroll. The Cubs are in fifth place in the N.L. Central, far out of contention, leading some to believe that they might spin off Garza in a deal at the deadline.
In a pitching-starved market, Garza almost certainly would be the best arm available and his experience pitching in the American League East would make him more attractive still to both the Red Sox and Yankees.
But Garza, who settled before arbitration on a one-year deal worth 5.95 million, is under the Cubs control through 2013 and there's no financial pressure to move him just because the team is having a poor season.