CHICAGO -- Cubs pitcher Matt Garza confirmed an ESPNChicago.com report from earlier on Monday, saying a contract extension with the team is a possibility. He was asked how "real" those chances were.
"As real as a trade," Garza said after beating the White Sox 8-2 on Monday night. "Trades are just rumors. Extension talk I'm a part of. I know for a fact where it's at. It's always a possibility. Fifty-fifty."
Garza has been lights out since returning from a lat injury suffered in spring training. He won his fifth game of the season against one loss on Monday, lowering his ERA to 3.22. He's lasted at least seven innings in his last five starts, giving up one earned run or less in each of them.
"It's always on the table," Garza continued. "I voiced my opinion about how I love it here, my family loves it here and it's always something that you think about."
A source familiar with the talks told ESPNChicago.com that the sides haven't gotten into serious negotiations regarding a new contract, still leading to the likelihood of Garza being traded before the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline.
"I don't know what route they're going to go," Garza said.
Garza signed a one-year deal for $10.25 million last offseason and will be a free agent at the end of this year.
"It's in both our courts but they have a little more cards to hold," Garza said. "At the end of the day it comes down to my decision on an extension, on a trade it's obviously their decision."