Wood offers example of trade that worked well

MILWAUKEE -- Travis Wood will open the Cubs' Interleague series Friday against Seattle, and the lefty may be the best candidate to represent the Cubs at the All-Star Game on July 16. And as the July 31 Non-Waiver Trade Deadline approaches, he's also a reminder of good things that can happen when a team makes a trade.

"To lead all of baseball in quality starts is solidifying enough," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said. "He obviously had a couple tough-luck outings, but he's been as consistent as anybody in baseball. On a team with guys who haven't had great first halfs, he and [Nate] Schierholtz are the top candidates to represent us."

The Cubs acquired Wood from the Reds in December 2011, along with infielder Ronald Torreyes and outfielder Dave Sappelt for reliever Sean Marshall.

"That's a trade that has definitely worked out," Sveum said.

Some players have already started hearing their names mentioned as trade bait as the deadline approaches. There were more scouts than usual at the Cubs' games Wednesday and Thursday to watch starters Scott Feldman and Matt Garza.

"Those things I don't have control over," Sveum said. "I know it's [the media's] job to talk about it a lot. In my world, I'll deal with that bridge when I'm getting ready to cross it, or cross it already, because a lot of times, that's out of my hands and I don't even know what's going on."

Last year, Sveum had to pull Reed Johnson from the on-deck circle, then take Geovany Soto out of the same game when they were dealt in separate trades to the Braves and Rangers, respectively. The Cubs were busy one year ago at the deadline, dealing Johnson, Soto, Ryan Dempster and Paul Maholm.

"When you're a commodity, it's part of the game," Sveum said. "I think players realize that, and hopefully they can block it out. The bottom line is when you cross those lines, you just go out and play and whatever happens, happens."