Pagan, Cedeno in mix for final roster spot
Manager Lou Piniella said after Monday's split-squad sweep of Seattle and Milwaukee that two jobs remained open, including one in the bullpen, but barring an injury or unforeseen meltdown by Angel Guzman today, the 12-man pitching staff appears sewn up.
That leaves a potentially critical spot on what already will be a thin bench, and Piniella said he's not sure whether it'll go to an infielder (Tomas Perez, Ronny Cedeno?) or an outfielder (Angel Pagan?).
Pinch-hitter Daryle Ward, who's defensively limited to left field and first base, has one of the five bench spots, along with backup catcher Henry Blanco and versatile utility man Ryan Theriot (four hits Monday and four positions played this spring). Another is taken by the Cliff Floyd/Matt Murton half of the left-field pseudo-platoon that isn't playing on a particular day.
The Cubs are looking at the possibility of trading for an infielder to fill that spot, but the trade winds have moved slowly this year for all teams, and it seems more likely that job will be filled from within.
Either way, Piniella said he's seeking versatility from that last bench player to help overcome the limitations he already faces on the bench.
''That's why once we cut down here, we'll start moving people around even a little more, just to try to take care of that,'' said Piniella, who plans to make a second round of substantial cuts after today's trip to Tucson.
DOLLARS FOR Z: Cubs general manager Jim Hendry and Carlos Zambrano's agent Barry Praver have talked briefly since Praver arrived in Arizona over weekend, according to sources for both sides Monday, but no significant negotiations were completed.
Praver, who attended the Cubs' game Monday, is in town through the end of the week, and more talks are planned before he returns to Florida. If the sides reach agreement on the five-year deal being discussed, it may not get done until close to Zambrano's Opening Day deadline for talks.
Zambrano and the team avoided arbitration last month by settling on a $12.4 million deal for this season.
NOTES: Angel Pagan, who has been slowed by a rib-cage injury in recent weeks, loaded up on at-bats Sunday in a minor-league game and then batted twice in one of the split-squad games Monday.
• • Left-hander Sean Marshall, who has been slowed by a sore shoulder, made his first appearance Monday. He allowed one hit and struck out one in one scoreless inning of relief against the Milwaukee Brewers.
• • One day after Piniella pointed out Daryle Ward's hitting deficiencies (.111 through Sunday), the lefty-hitting bench player rapped a pair of two-run doubles against the Brewers in the road half of the Cubs' split-squad games Monday.
• • Famed Cubs fan and sometimes syndicated political columnist George Will visited Cubs camp Monday with his son Jon and attended the Cubs-Mariners game at HoHoKam.
• • Maybe the switch-hitting Zambrano can be part of the answer for Piniella's short bench this year. The Cubs' ace pinch hit for Bob Howry in the fifth inning against Seattle on Monday -- and struck out swinging.