May 21, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matt Garza (22) pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

A poll by MLB Trade Rumors shows that most believe that Chicago Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer will be busy in coming months, as all five Cubs players listed in the poll received over 20 percent of viewer responses (More than one player can be selected in the poll by each viewer.

Leading all vote-getters, not only amongst Cubs players – but all of Major League Baseball, was recently activated right-hander Matt Garza. The 29-year old has made two starts this season for Chicago, tossing a combined nine innings and allowing four earned runs in the process. Opponents have struggled to make contact against the former Tampa Bay Rays star, managing a miniscule .161 mark this season. He has also struck out 12 batters in those nine innings of work.

Cubs left-fielder Alfonso Soriano also ranked near the top of the poll, managing 35 percent of the vote. The aging, yet still-potent bat recently caused a stir with remarks he made during the team’s recent losing streak, which was snapped in Cincinnati this afternoon.

“Yeah,” Soriano said when asked if he’s more likely to consider waiving his no-trade rights than he thought he might be a few months ago. “But it depends on them. It depends what the team wants.  A chance to win, that’s the most important thing. But it depends on the front office. It’s not on me.”

So far this season, the 37-year old is hitting .262 with four home runs and 15 RBIs. Last year, he experienced a rejuvenation for the North Siders, tagging 32 home runs en route to 108 RBIs. Soriano also posted a .322 on-base percentage, his highest mark since 2010.

Reliever Carlos Marmol, outfielder David DeJesus and starting pitcher Scott Feldman all also appeared in the poll, managing 22.1%, 27% and 19.9%, respectively.

Marmol lost the closer’s role earlier this season, and has since been somewhat improved. However, his numbers are still inflated from the shellackings he suffered in April. The right-hander is 2-2 with two saves, and an earned run average of 4.50 over 20 appearances. His 1.667 WHIP is his highest since his rookie season in  2006, when he posted a 1.688 mark.

DeJesus was one of the first signings of the new regime, and his reputation for finding a way on base has come to full fruition with the Cubs. He is batting .287 this season to go along with his five home runs and 16 RBIs, but has an on-base percentage of .355, his highest mark since 2010 with Kansas City.

Feldman was a high-upside, low-risk pickup this offseason for the Cubs, and has emerged as one of the best pitchers not just for Chicago, but in the entire National League. The 30-year old right-hander is 4-4, but has a 2.80 earned run average in nine starts this season, well below his career average of 4.67.

Stay tuned to Cubbies Crib as the season progresses for in-depth stories, the latest news and rumors, and game coverage.

May 23, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Edwin Jackson (36) delivers a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the second inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

This winter, when the Cubs announced the signing of right-hander Edwin Jackson, the Cubs faithful were excited. They looked at him as a dependable arm that could provide much-needed stability this season, after Double-A starters were regularly called up for spot starts in 2012. However, ten starts into his Cubs contract, Jackson has been anything but dependable, as Chicago dropped yet another one of his starts Thursday night at Pittsburgh, falling 4-2 to the Pirates.

Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen seems to be heating up of late, as he went 3-for-4 with two runs batted in and a stolen base in the winning effort that moved his squad to 29-18 on the season. With the win, Pittsburgh continued their dominant month of May, in which they have posted a 14-6 record. The main question that is in the front of everyone’s mind, though, is whether or not this team can play at a high-level for six straight months. In the past two seasons, the team has fallen off in July, and is yet to post a winning season in the last two decades.

The Bucs hit Jackson early and often. Oft-touted Starling Marte got things started in the bottom of the first with an infield single that Castro knocked down, before stealing second. McCutchen then promptly followed with an RBI single, before himself swiping second with Garrett Jones at the plate. Second baseman Neil Walker drew a base-on-balls, setting the table for Michael McKenry‘s RBI single to make it a 2-0 game.

After retiring the first two batters in the second, Jackson hit another roadblock, in the form of the top of the Pittsburgh order. Marte reached base on his second infield single of the afternoon and came around to score on an RBI triple by Travis Snider, who then scored on another RBI single by McCutchen.

A torrential downpour limited Jackson (1-7) to just three innings of work, but in that limited time, he allowed four earned runs on six hits and one walk, while also notching six strikeouts. With Thursday’s performance in the books, Jackson’s earned run average on the season is at 6.11, and is near seven in the starts he has made that the Cubs lost.

After the game, Cubs manager Dale Sveum posed questions about his right-hander’s conviction.

“”It seems to be just not coming out with a lot of conviction early in the game,” Sveum said. “Those are questions and answers, you wish you knew what happened in those situations and why the same guy doesn’t come out all the time.”

Cubs leadoff man David DeJesus doubled to open the Cubs fourth against Pirates starter Jeanmar Gomez. He  then moved up on Starlin Castro‘s single and scored when Rizzo hit into a fielder’s choice. Pinch-hitter  and semi-recent pickup Ryan Sweeney added a two-out, RBI single in the top of the seventh inning to account for the only other run the Cubs offense could muster.

“He obviously wasn’t real sharp,” Sveum said after the game. “He didn’t come out with a whole lot of velocity at the beginning either. McCutchen took advantage of a hanging slider and another fastball as well. There wasn’t a whole lot of life coming out of that arm today.”

UP NEXT: Chicago opens a series against Cincinnati at the Great American Ballpark tonight at 6:10 p.m. Scott Feldman (4-3, 2.19) looks to continue his hot start, and will be opposed by veteran Bronson Arroyo (4-4, 3.28).

May 18, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Scott Feldman (46) is congratulated in the dugout during the seventh inning against the New York Mets at Wrigley Field. Chicago won 8-2. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

The Cubs jumped on Hefner in the bottom of the fourth. Luis Valbuena hit a sac fly with the bases loaded no outs for the first tally and Welington Castillo made it 2-0 with a RBI single. Feldman then came up to the plate and showed that he could do no wrong of late. He hit a double over the Mets outfielders to plate two more with two outs and the Cubs were up 4-0.

Anthony Rizzo hit his 10th homer of the season in the fifth to make it 5-0 and more than enough runs for the hot Feldman. The Cubs righty allowed seven hits and just one walk over 6 2/3 innings of work, with six strikeouts to round out the nice box score line.

Nate Schierholtz added a solo shot in the eighth to give him five on the season and David DeJesus added a two run single to emphasize the rout. The burst of offense was a sight for sore eyes after being held to two first inning runs against Harvey on Friday afternoon. Hector Rondon blew the shut out bid with two runs allowed in mop up duty, but the win was a comfortable one none the less.