Chicago Cubs: Greatest players of the decade – #30-21

Chicago Cubs: No. 21: Matt Garza

It’s easy to forget that Matt Garza even pitched for the Chicago Cubs. Yet he was a mainstay in the rotation during some of the dark days of early in the decade.

In what I think many fans would agree was a desperate move, Jim Hendry traded for Garza from the Tampa Bay Rays prior to the 2011 season and gave up a haul that included future All-Star pitcher Chris Archer and current Houston Astros catcher Robinson Chirinos. The team didn’t perform well in 2011, but Garza had a good year, starting 31 games and putting up a 3.32 ERA while striking out 197 batters in 198 innings.

When Theo Epstein cleaned house prior to the 2012 season, he decided to hold onto Garza, and Garza put up a 3.91 ERA, though he didn’t pitch after July 21. In 2013, Garza bounced back to put up a 3.17 ERA in 11 starts before the Cubs traded him to the Texas Rangers for two players that have appeared on this list, Carl Edwards, Jr. and Justin Grimm, along with Mike Olt and Neil Ramirez.

Garza pitched for the Milwaukee Brewers from 2014-2017, and that’s when he last pitched in the majors.