CHICAGO -- Matt Garza threw from a mound for the first time in nine days and the Chicago Cubs liked what they saw.

“Yeah, he threw a 'pen, and it went extremely well, better than I imagined,” manager Dale Sveum said. “It was just a normal bullpen. He threw all his pitches, had velocity, extended himself with the slider, curveball, changeup. It went extremely, extremely well.”

Despite the glowing report, the Cubs are still not saying when Garza might get into a game again. He last pitched July 21 at St. Louis, leaving after three innings because of a cramp in his right triceps. A subsequent MRI revealed no major damage although there was slight fluid buildup around the muscle.

Asked about it afterward, Garza gave a brief “good,” before he walked away.

The right-hander had been prominently mentioned in trade talk, but in light of his arm soreness that talk has cooled. If he isn’t traded by 3 p.m. CST on Tuesday, the Cubs could try to slip him through waivers and deal him after the deadline.

It seems more likely that if Garza isn’t moved by Tuesday, the Cubs would wait until the offseason to trade him.