Just before the All-Star break, the Chicago Cubs had a bit of an aberration where they scored 40-plus runs in four games, most of which came as they beat up on inferior pitching. Kerry Wood has struggled a bit, but for the most part the Cubs pitching has remained solid -- they just desperately need another bat.

Oakland is where the house of cards will begin to fall concerning 2001 trade possibilities. As teams try to put their ducks in a row, the most attractive guy out there is Jason Giambi -- there isn't a team in the country that couldn't use him. What the Cubs -- or anyone else -- does could depend on what the A's do, and when they do it. Teams may have to wait until the day of the deadline. The Cubs tried to strike first with the Fred McGriff deal, but thus far it hasn't worked.

	Jermaine Dye might be the second-best option for the Cubs.

The A's have three very attractive players -- Johnny Damon, Jason Isringhausen and Giambi -- and they are the most dangerous team that is not quite in the race yet. But they could be -- they are six back of Boston in the wild card, and only five behind Cleveland. Tim Hudson, Barry Zito, Mark Mulder and even Cory Lidle have all pitched very well. The way the A's have been playing puts Billy Beane on the hot seat. Will he make some moves or will he hold and go after the wild card in the American League?

If the Cubs don't want to wait for the A's, or if they're not invited to the A's party, Arizona might be a good trade partner. More than anything else, the Cubs need someone who can hit and play center field -- Steve Finley might be the most interesting option. He's having a horrible year offensively, but it's hard to believe he could go so quickly from hitting .280 with 35 home runs and 96 RBI last year to .236-5-34 in the first half of this year withoug being able to turn it around again. Prior to Sunday night in Seattle, Finley was on the bench for six straight games, but he's been working on his swing and looking at video. The Cubs know they would be getting a good defensive player in Finley. Don Baylor, hitting coach Jeff Pentland and GM Andy MacPhail will just need to be convinced that Finley could be straightened out at the plate. Pentland is a great hitting coach, and is credited with bringing Sammy Sosa to the next level. Sometimes a change of venue and some new instruction can be enough to turn a player around.

The Diamondbacks would probably be willing to move Finley, because with Reggie Sanders, Luis Gonzalez, David Dellucci and Danny Bautista, they have a surplus of outfielders. They'd want a starting pitcher, because they need to add someone to the rotation with Curt Schilling, Randy Johnson and Robert Ellis. The Cubs won't be willing to give up Jon Lieber or Wood, but they might willing to give up Julian Tavarez or even Kevin Tapani.

There is a long list of usual suspects like Greg Vaughn, Jose Cruz Jr., or Jermaine Dye, but Finley looks like the best fit if he can turn his bat around. He has a couple good years left, and he'd be on his way out just in time for Corey Patterson to take over the reigns as the center fielder of the future. All indications are that Patterson isn't ready just yet, and while Rondell White could be a great center fielder, his body won't allow him to do so anymore.

If the Cubs do not become convinced of Finley's worth at the plate, Dye should be the next guy they go after. Although he's more of a right fielder, he can play center, too. The Cubs have what some call the best farm system in baseball, and Lord knows the Royals need prospects.

Dave Campbell, who played eight seasons in the major leagues, works as an analyst for Baseball Tonight and ESPN Radio.