The Chicago Cubs are going to have an epic fire sale in July. Here is a look at the guys I think are getting dealt and who is likely to be interested in them:

Geovany Soto - Not a lot of teams are looking for catchers. Soto would likely interest the Rays and Nationals. I think the Cubs would get a better deal from the Rays for Soto, as they need him more.

Bryan LaHair - With Bryan LaHair now playing RF, it helps his trade value as he can also handle 1B. He is one of the better lefty swingers likely to be available next month on the trade market. The Marlins, Pirates, Brewers and Dodgers are likely going to be the most interested parties. I like the idea of dealing LaHair to the Marlins for a nice minor league pitching prospect.

Darwin Barney - The Cubs are going to make 2B Darwin Barney available. Not a lot of teams need 2B, with the Tigers and Cardinals having the biggest need. I would think a deal with the Tigers would make perfect sense for both teams.

Jeff Baker - Righty swinging infielder Jeff Baker could garner some decent interest on the trading block. Baker would likely appeal to the Angels, Reds and Nationals. I think the Angels are the best fit for Baker.

Alfonso Soriano - The Cubs are going to have to be willing to eat a lot of Soriano’s contract to move him. They will likely be than willing to do that if they get a decent prospect back. The Orioles, Indians, Marlins, Pirates and Dodgers make the most sense. The Indians or Pirates are likely the teams where Soriano would fit best.

Reed Johnson - Righty swinging reserve outfielder Reed Johnson is going to pique some teams interest in the trade market. Johnson is going to appeal to the Yankees, Orioles, White Sox, Nationals and Reds. I think the Yankees would be the best fit for Johnson.

Matt Garza - Righty starting pitcher Matt Garza is the Cubs’ biggest trade chip by far. He will likely command at least two top notch prospects. The Yankees, Orioles, Red Sox, Blue Jays, White Sox, Indians, Royals, Rangers and Braves will all likely be after him. The Rangers or Blue Jays have the biggest need and could likely offer a very nice package for Garza.

Ryan Dempster - Righty starting pitcher Ryan Dempster is going to get dealt as soon as he shows he’s healthy. The Yankees, Orioles, Red Sox, Blue Jays, White Sox, Indians, Royals, Rangers, Dodgers and Braves will all likely be after him. When the dust settles, I see the Dodgers offering the best package for Dempster.

Paul Maholm - Lefty starting pitcher Paul Maholm is going to generate some interest if he keeps pitching well. The Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Indians, Royals and Braves will all likely be interested. The Cubs will move him to the highest bidder, whoever that winds up being.

Carlos Marmol - The Cubs would probably love to move righty reliever (and current closer) Carlos Marmol in a deal. The Cubs might be able to get the Mets and Phillies interested in him. Don’t hold your breath.

Shawn Camp - The Cubs could likely extract a middling prospect from the Mets or Phillies for Camp.

The Cubs are only 27-49 so far this year, which already has them 15 games behind the Reds. This year is a lost cause, so they need to maximize the return for their available assets.

The Chicago Cubs have designated 29-year old righty starter/reliever Randy Wells for assignment. Wells pitched in 12 games (4 starts) for the Cubs this year and he was 1-2 with a 5.34 ERA and a 2.06 WHIP. Wells pitched in 97 games (86 starts) in his four years with the Cubs and he was 28-32 with a 4.09 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. The Cubs have called up 24-year old righty reliever Rafael Dolis to take Wells’ spot on the active roster. Dolis has pitched in 24 games (0 starts) for the Cubs so far this year and he is 2-4 with 4 saves, a 5.81 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. With so many teams desperate for starting pitching, the Cubs should try to deal Wells to a team like the Blue Jays or Yankees.

UPDATE: (6/30/2012) - The Cubs have outrighted Randy Wells to AAA after he cleared waivers. Look for Wells to get another shot with the Cubs later this year when the firesale begins.

UPDATE: (7/25/2012) - The Cubs have lost Randy Wells for the rest of the season due to arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow.

The Cubs have released 19-year old righty swinging 1B Jair Bogaerts. Bogaerts came over from the Red Sox in the Theo Epstein deal. He didn’t play any games in the minors this year before he was cut. He has played in 93 games in his first two years in the minors and he is 73 for 321 (.227 avg, .641 OPS) with 29 runs scored, 4 homers and 47 RBIs. This is no loss for the Cubs moving forward.

27-year old righty starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija has been awful so far in June for the Cubs. He has started 4 games for the Cubs so far in June and he is 0-3 with a 8.53 ERA and a 2.00 WHIP. He has given up 27 hits and he has walked 11 batters in his first 19 innings this month, and that just isn’t going to get the job done. He has now pitched in 14 games (all starts) overall this year for the Cubs and he is 5-6 with a 4.34 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. The Cubs need Samardzija to get back on track soon.

22-year old lefty swinging 1B Anthony Rizzo is ripping the ball in AAA so far this year. He has played in 63 games for the Cubs in AAA-ball so far this year and he is 84 for 231 (.364 avg, 1.170 OPS) with 46 runs scored, 23 homers, 59 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. In the last two years, Rizzo has played in 156 games in AAA-ball and he is 202 of 587 (.344 avg) with 110 runs scored, 49 homers, 160 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. Rizzo has nothing left to prove in AAA, so the Cubs need to call him up and hope that he’s much better than he was his first time around in the majors last year with the Padres. Rizzo played in 49 games for the Padres last year and he was 18 for 128 (.141 avg, .523 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 1 homer, 9 RBIs, 2 stolen bases and an amazingly awful 46 whiffs.

The Cubs have placed 35-year old righty starting pitcher Ryan Dempster on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 16th due to right lat tightness. Dempster pitched in 12 games (all starts) for the Cubs so far this year and he is 3-3 with a 2.11 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP. Dempster has only given up 60 hits in 81 innings so far this year, while whiffing 66 batters and walking only 22. This is a big blow to the Cubs as Dempster was pitching outstanding this year, driving up his value on the trade market. Dempster will be replaced in the starting rotation by 29-year old righty Randy Wells. Wells has pitched in 10 games (2 starts) for the Cubs so far this year and he is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.82 WHIP. Wells has now pitched in 95 games (84 starts) in his first five years with the Cubs and he is 28-31 with a 4.03 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP.

29-year old righty reliever Carlos Marmol has been re-installed as the Cubs’ closer as no pitcher took over in the role after he gave it up. Marmol has pitched in 23 games (0 starts) for the Cubs so far this year and he is 1-2 with 3 saves, a 5.79 ERA and a 1.98 WHIP. He has whiffed 21 batters already this year and he has only allowed 15 hits in his first 18 2/3 innings, but he has also walked 22 batters and that is what drives manager Dale Sveum nuts. Marmol has now pitched in 414 games (13 starts) in his first 7 years with the Cubs and he is 19-27 with 98 saves, a 3.46 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. Marmol is #4 in saves (98) in Cubs’ history and he is also #5 in games pitched (414). The Cubs will have to just live with his wildness and hope for the best in the 9th inning.

The Cubs have designated 33-year old switch-hitting catcher Koyie Hill for assignment. Hill has played in 11 games for the Cubs this year and he is 7 for 39 (.179 avg, .385 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 0 homers and 1 RBI. He has now played in 263 games in his first six years with the Cubs and he is 156 of 755 (.207 avg, .556 OPS) with 69 runs scored, 7 homers, 64 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. The Cubs hope that Hill will clear waivers and accept an outright assignment to AAA, to serve as an insurance policy behind the plate for them.

UPDATE: (6/16/2012) - Koyie Hill has cleared waivers and he has been outrighted to AAA.

UPDATE: (6/17/2012) - Koyie Hill has rejected an outright assignment from the Cubs and he has become a free agent.

The Cubs have placed 27-year old lefty swinging 3B Ian Stewart on the 15-day disabled list due to a left wrist injury. Stewart has played in 55 games for the Cubs so far this year and he is 36 for 179 (.201 avg, .627 OPS) with 16 runs scored, 5 homers and 17 RBIs. Righty swinging Jeff Baker will likely see a bump in P.T. while Stewart is out of action. Baker has played in 27 games for the Cubs so far this year and he is 16 for 67 (.239 avg, .646 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 1 homer, 7 RBIs and 1 stolen base.

UPDATE: (7/2/2012) - Ian Stewart needs surgery on his left wrist which will cause him to miss the next 6-10 weeks.

26-year old lefty swinging CF Tony Campana has been really playing pretty well for the Cubs since he has been inserted into the starting lineup. Campana has played in 42 games for the Cubs so far this year and he is 33 for 118 (.280 avg, .634 OPS) with 15 runs scored, 0 homers, 4 RBIs and a major league leading 21 stolen bases. He has now played in 137 games in his first two years with the Cubbies and he is 70 for 261 (.268 avg, .617 OPS) with 39 runs scored, 1 homer, 10 RBIs and 45 stolen bases. The Cubs hope Campana keeps up the good work as his speed gives their offense and defense a dynamic it didn’t have before he was in the starting lineup.