Could Matt Garza be heading to San Diego?

Jun 16, 2013; Flushing, NY,USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matt Garza (22) pitches during the first inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

After dominating the East Coast for several years and having a respectable level of success in the nation’s heartland, could Matt Garza be headed west to conquer the Pacific?

According to ESPN’s Peter Gammons, that’s the word on the street.

The proposed deal would send the Cubs right-hander to San Diego in exchange for outfield prospect Reymond Fuentes and two other minor leaguers. Fuentes does not appear in the San Diego organization’s top 20 prospect list, but is hitting .332 with five home runs, 26 RBIs and 23 steals in 63 games with Double-A San Antonio this season. The 22-year old has also posted a .419 on-base percentage this season.

The two other minor league players were not named by Gammons, but are reported to be players drafted by the Cubs’ Jason McLeod and Jed Hoyer when they were with San Diego.

All that being said, Ken Rosenthal has reported that the Padres would prefer to add a starting pitcher who is under team control past the end of the season, which Garza is not. However, Gammons also reported that the Giants are close to picking up Ricky Nolasco, who was rumored to be a major target of the Padres.

San Diego is currently 38-39 on the season, which places the team fourth in the closely-packed National League West, despite their weak rotation so far this season.