The Washington nationals have demoted starter John Lannan to AAA Syracuse to start this season, and as a result, Lannan has requited a trade. The Nationals organization has said they won't be trading Lannan, but that might just be posturing so as to keep his trade value high. One of the teams that has reportedly shown interest is the team the Nationals beat on opening day, the Chicago Cubs. According to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times, the Cubs have had conversations about Lannan while dangling former Nat Marlon Byrd.
Still on the lookout for pitching help in particular, the Cubs, according to a major-league source, inquired again about Washington Nationals left-hander John Lannan, who asked for a trade after being sent to the minors this week when he lost the Nats’ fifth-starter job to Ross Detwiler.
The Cubs already had talked to the Nationals about lefty pitching, including Lannan and former Cub Tom Gorzelanny, the source said, with Cubs center fielder Marlon Byrd included in those discussions.
Lannan should have some value because he is an established major league pitcher and the team trading for him should know exactly what they are getting with him. Byrd might not be able to start for the Nationals right now, but he could provide some good depth in the outfield.
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