07/16 07:55: Ted Lilly met with general manager Jim Hendry to discuss his future before Thursday night’s game with the Phillies.

Lilly is on the block and is considered the Cub with the most trade value. Lilly has said he would like to stay in Chicago and has a limited no-trade clause. Hendry would like to keep Lilly, but he doesn’t know if the Cubs can meet his free agent demands in November so he has to consider getting something in return.

Lilly has been linked to the Mets as well as many other teams. Information provided by Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune.

07/15 22:38: Chris De Luca of the Chicago Sun-Times said the Cubs are serious considering a trade with the New York Mets for left-handed pitcher Ted Lilly. Chicago has gone to the next step and started doing their homework on three Mets prospects: left-hander Robert Carson and right-handers Kyle Allen and Jeurys Familia.

De Luca says that there is a clear mandate for the team to start slashing costs and Lilly could be the first to go in this firesale.

Lilly is owed $6 million for this season, and the Mets likely won’t have a problem taking that payroll on. The issue – he may not be much of an upgrade to Hisanori Takahashi.